Deadly China plane crash was caused by fuel cut-off, says report
A 2022 China Eastern Boeing 737 crash that killed all 132 people on board was caused by the fuel switches on both engines being set to 'cut-off' during flight, according to a US National Transportation Safety Board report. The data, drawn from a recovered black box, indicates the fuel cut-off occurred at cruising altitude, supporting theories of intentional action. China has not released a final report, citing national security concerns, while maintaining that crew were qualified and fit for duty.
- ▪The fuel switches on both engines of China Eastern flight MU5735 were moved to 'cut-off' at cruising altitude, according to NTSB data.
- ▪The plane plummeted from 29,000 feet to 3,225 feet in under three minutes before crashing in a mountainside.
- ▪The black box was analyzed at the NTSB laboratory in Washington DC under the Freedom of Information Act.
- ▪China's Civil Aviation Administration has not released a final report, citing potential threats to national security and social stability.
- ▪The crew held valid licenses, passed health checks, and were adequately rested on the day of the flight.
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Deadly China plane crash was caused by fuel cut-off, says report26 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleGavin ButlerGetty ImagesRescue teams combed the mountainside where the crash happenedA Boeing 737 plane that plummeted into a Chinese hillside in 2022, killing all 132 people on board, had its fuel supply cut mid-flight, according to newly released data by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Findings by the NTSB say that the fuel switches on both engines of the China Eastern flight were moved to the "cut-off" position while it was at a cruising altitude of 8,839m (29,000ft) - supporting a theory that the crash was intentional.The crash is the country's deadliest air disaster in decades, though the cause of the incident has long remained a mystery.
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