This is heartbreaking…
In this post:
China Eastern Boeing 737-800 crashes enroute to Guangzhou
On Monday, March 21, 2022, China Eastern flight MU5735 crashed while operating the scheduled 665-mile flight from Kunming (KMG) to Guangzhou (CAN). The flight had a total of 132 people onboard, including 123 passengers and nine crew members.
The China Eastern flight was operated by a roughly six year old Boeing 737-800 with the registration code B-1791. To get out ahead of this, note that the 737-800 is different than the 737 MAX 8 (which had two fatal crashes, and ended up being grounded for roughly two years).
According to flight tracking software, the plane had been in the sky for just over an hour, and was cruising at 29,000 feet. The plane then entered a steep descent — two minutes later it descended all the way to 9,000 feet — and shortly thereafter it disappeared from radar.
Rescue efforts are currently underway. There are videos circulating on social media of what’s allegedly the crash scene, as well as of the plane’s steep descent, but I don’t think it’s appropriate to post those at this time (both because this hasn’t been officially confirmed, and out of respect for the families).
What is China Eastern?
For those not familiar with China Eastern, it’s the second largest airline in China (after China Southern). The airline has a fleet of roughly 600 jets, and operates flights globally, largely from its hub in Shanghai (though the airline has other hubs as well). The airline is also a member of SkyTeam, and Delta owns a stake in the airline.
The airline currently operates a fleet of roughly 150 Boeing 737s, including both the 737-700 and 737-800. On top of that, the airline has 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft on order, which are the latest generation 737 jets.
China Eastern hasn’t had a fatal crash in nearly two decades. The last one was in November 2004, when China Eastern flight MU5210 (operated by a CRJ-200) from Baotou to Shanghai crashed shortly after departure.
Bottom line
A China Eastern Boeing 737-800 crashed while operating a domestic flight today, with 132 people onboard. Details are limited as of now, though we know that this happened toward the later part of the flight, as the plane was preparing to descent. Over the course of a few minutes the plane went from 29,000 feet to disappearing from radar.
This is so beyond tragic — my thoughts and prayers are with those onboard and their families. Aviation is incredibly safe, and we often take that for granted. It’s awful when we get a reminder like this of how wrong things can go every so often.
(Featured image courtesy of Shadman Samee)
This totally breaks my heart. Can't imagine if this happens to my family or my friends.
Also, to @Winnie the Pooh, please have some respect for those who are impacted and stop hijacking this thread to your personal agenda. It says a lot about you.
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John Guest
March 21, 2022, 3:01 pm
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Eskimoo Guest
March 21, 2022, 3:40 pm
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Stanley C Diamond
March 24, 2022, 4:00 am
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2 more repliesI like your call for decency, but asking @winnie and @eskimoo to show basic decency is a useless endeavour. It's like expecting a steaming pile of cow dung not to reek badly.
Recall how @eskimoo also mocked, taunted and laughed at those victims who burned to death in the 2019 New Zealand volcano eruption. That's the level of 'humans'* you're talking to. There's only one language these types understand.
Sounds fun, I'll play along your fake news. I really can't say no to such a devoted fan.
Where exactly did you recall what I said about the NZ volcano?
Maybe you got confused and thought it was Obama, or Iron Man, or Mickey Mouse who said that.
Well said!! Respect! A tragedy is never to be taken lightly especially by nasty statements.
Will the CCP find that Taiwan or Uyghurs were responsible and use that to justify war or genocide? Could Xi's regime have intentionally plotted the incident and frame it to their adversaries?
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Stanley C Diamond
March 21, 2022, 12:33 pm
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David Diamond
March 21, 2022, 2:37 pm
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Joshua Guest
March 21, 2022, 3:15 pm
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Stanley C Diamond
March 24, 2022, 4:03 am
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Zi Guest
March 21, 2022, 3:16 pm
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mark Guest
March 21, 2022, 7:24 pm
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David Diamond
March 22, 2022, 2:57 am
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guisun Diamond
March 21, 2022, 3:16 pm
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Henry Guest
March 22, 2022, 12:14 pm
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Hunter Guest
March 22, 2022, 7:17 pm
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Henry Guest
March 22, 2022, 10:28 pm
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10 more repliesUnnecessary comments. Please show some respect. It is a real tragedy.
The current zeitgeist on the Chinese intranet is to blame the US for everything.
@David Stance from Communist Chinese media/officials:
COVID: spreads claims virus originates from the US
Russia invasion of Ukraine: blames USA and NATO
Since all of media industry is controlled by Communist Party in the firewall nation, most people only read news from heavily censored state media, or sensational nationalistic social media contents which are actually even worse. Totally unsurprised if they ever start blaming the US this time because Boeing is an American...
@David Stance from Communist Chinese media/officials:
COVID: spreads claims virus originates from the US
Russia invasion of Ukraine: blames USA and NATO
Since all of media industry is controlled by Communist Party in the firewall nation, most people only read news from heavily censored state media, or sensational nationalistic social media contents which are actually even worse. Totally unsurprised if they ever start blaming the US this time because Boeing is an American company and the 737 is an American product, or potentially false claims like airline could not receive maintenance parts due to US sanctions. And I bet China will never let FAA or NTSB into the country for an independent investigation; even if they did, any report would be accused by the Chinese government for smearing the country. It would be a miracle if they even allow Boeing conduct an investigation.
According to the BBC, U.S. investigators have been invited to help find the cause of this terrible tragedy.
As a chinese reader, i found the comment appalling and extremely disrespectful. The claim being made here is simply ridiculous. The knee-jerk action to associating any Chinese news to political conspiracies just shows how distorted your mind is as a result of whatever propaganda you've been fed with over the years.
Zi look at how humble and respectful your citizens comment about the earthquake in Japan, any incidents in India and Taiwan, and how you guys enjoy watching the Ukrainian refugees losing their homes. The world would become a much better place without your nmslese
Hahaha nmslese, classic
For those unfamiliar with the term, nmsl is Chinese pinyin for "your mom died", a favourite insult of Chinese trolls.
What does the this tragedy has anything to do with Xi regime??
Unlike in the US, ordinary people in China don’t get to choose the government or have a say on the national policy. These victims are just some ordinary innocent people, who did not get to choose where to be born and may have never seen a vote. They and their families don’t deserve your malice. Please have some basic decency.
The same ordinary people who happen to circumvent their most advanced internet firewall to promote the government's propaganda and disinformation, praise their dictatorship and humiliate people when the rest of the world experience tragic events. They may not get to choose the government's policy but they certainly choose to act like a clown and be proud of it.
@Hunter,
Every country has bad apples. With China’s 1.4 billion population and the government brainwashing, the number of trolls is can be much bigger, but that doesn’t mean the silent majority are as bad. There may be a reason they choose to remain silent.
Bottom line is, even the 132 victims here were all “trolling clowns”, they don’t deserve to die.
Absolutely heartbreaking to see, thoughts and prayers with the families. I was so shocked to see this, there hasn't been a major crash in a while. Also not too sure the circumstances but after the MAX stuff and the latest Netflix Doco even if it wasn't mechanical error this does not reflect well for Boeing.
132 people not 123
123 passengers, 9 crews, 132 total onboard. Don't know if the title was changed at some time
May their souls rest in peace— what a horrible way to die.
I watched the clip shared on Twitter. Why does the footage give me Germanwings-vibes? Whatever the cause is, may the aviation industry learn from it.
I condemn all those who wish it was the MAX.
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John Guest
March 21, 2022, 1:48 pm
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Eskimo Guest
March 21, 2022, 2:27 pm
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1 more replyI condemn all those men who who took part in your procreation.
I love it when fans share their love and engagement.
But please don't offend the 6th day. Leave him out of this.
Now go ask for forgiveness.
Plane basically plunge vertically from sky with horrible CCTV video from a nearby factory. Either it had some crazy mechanical issue, or it's deliberation.
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Peking Duck Guest
March 21, 2022, 7:27 am
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Winnie the Pooh Guest
March 21, 2022, 10:30 am
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Steve Diamond
March 21, 2022, 11:34 am
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Steve Diamond
March 21, 2022, 11:46 am
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Joshua Member
March 21, 2022, 3:30 pm
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Eskimo Guest
March 21, 2022, 4:05 pm
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5 more repliesYep, the video is chilling.
It will be censored by the CCP because of Bing Chilling
Way too early to know for sure, i would not be surprised though to see a conclusion after an investigation that shows it was deliberate. Seems like it was well into the flight before any problem arose as if one pilot was waiting for an opportunity to be alone.
Lets hope they recover the fdr and cvr quickly and the information is quickly distributed and not censored.
Deliberate, or slow loss of cabin pressure, ultimately resulting in LOC of crew and subsequent crash; as catastrophic aircraft failure during cruse is damn rare.
Question would be why the cabin pressure alarms didn’t work if that was the case. Things like this are not supposed to happen.
While this is way too soon to draw conclusions.
"slow loss of cabin pressure, ultimately resulting in LOC of crew and subsequent crash"
Unlikely theory as Helios 522 incident, the plane would have been flying until fuel runs out.
A deliberate nose dive should have broke apart the plane before impact, but not that this could be ruled out.
My guess would be some spatial disorientation caused by some other issue.
Or...
While this is way too soon to draw conclusions.
"slow loss of cabin pressure, ultimately resulting in LOC of crew and subsequent crash"
Unlikely theory as Helios 522 incident, the plane would have been flying until fuel runs out.
A deliberate nose dive should have broke apart the plane before impact, but not that this could be ruled out.
My guess would be some spatial disorientation caused by some other issue.
Or the rudder issue makes a comeback.
Sadly, like you said, China might not get NTSB involved at all or withholding the vital information for whatever reason.