Fresh revelations have brought renewed global attention to one of China’s deadliest aviation disasters.
Investigators in the United States have released details that point to a possible deliberate action inside the cockpit.
The incident involved China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735, which went down in March 2022. The aircraft was travelling between Kunming and Guangzhou when it suddenly lost altitude. All 132 people on board were killed in the crash.
According to findings by the US National Transportation Safety Board, the situation unfolded rapidly. The aircraft had been cruising normally before a sudden and sharp descent was recorded.
“It was found that while cruising at 29,000ft, the fuel switches on both engines moved from the run position to the cut-off position. Engine speeds decreased after the fuel switch movement,” the NTSB stated.
This detail has drawn significant attention. It suggests that both engines were manually shut down during the flight.
Meanwhile, analysis of cockpit controls showed conflicting actions. One pilot appeared to be trying to regain control.
Video footage captured from the ground showed the aircraft falling almost vertically. No distress call was made, and no emergency signal was sent before impact.
The plane crash has remained under investigation since the tragedy. However, official updates from Chinese authorities had previously stated that the aircraft systems were functioning normally.
Moreover, warnings had been issued against releasing sensitive information. Authorities had cautioned that further disclosures could affect national security and stability.
In addition, the NTSB had earlier shared its findings with Chinese investigators shortly after the crash. The details only became public after a freedom of information request was filed in the United States.
Reports also indicated that the flight data recorder stopped after about 90 seconds due to power failure.
However, the audio is no longer available to US investigators. It had been handed over to Chinese authorities during the initial investigation phase.
Three pilots were on board at the time. These included the captain, a senior first officer, and a trainee pilot.
Furthermore, earlier claims suggested that “the plane did what it was told to do by someone in the cockpit.”
Despite growing evidence, responsibility for the crash has not been officially assigned.
