Report into China plane crash that left 132 dead suggests struggle in cockpit

World
8 May 2026 • 4:53 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Report into China plane crash that left 132 dead suggests struggle in cockpit

  • A US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report suggests the 2022 China Eastern Airlines plane crash, which killed all 132 people, was likely deliberate, as fuel to both engines was cut off mid-flight.
  • The report, released under the Freedom of Information Act, found that the 'fuel switches on both engines moved from the run position to the cut-off position', leading the Boeing 737 to plunge almost vertically from 29,000ft.
  • Data indicates that after the fuel cut-off, the plane nosedived and spun around, with cockpit control data showing the control wheels moving in a back-and-forth pattern during the dive.
  • Aviation expert Jeff Guzzetti interprets these erratic control wheel movements as evidence of a struggle in the cockpit, suggesting two pilots were attempting to control the aircraft in opposing directions simultaneously.
  • Aviation safety consultant John Cox noted that the 737's fuel levers require deliberate action to move to the cut-off position, reinforcing the likelihood of an intentional act, though Chinese authorities have yet to publish a final investigation report.

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