A newly released report from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicates that the 2022 China Eastern Airlines plane crash, which claimed all 132 lives on board, was likely the result of a deliberate act. The report, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, reveals that the fuel switches for both engines were moved from the run position to the cut-off position during the flight, causing the Boeing 737 to plunge almost vertically from an altitude of 29,000 feet.
Details of the Incident
The crash occurred in Guangxi province, China, on March 21, 2022. According to the NTSB report, after the fuel was cut off, the aircraft nosedived and began to spin. Cockpit control data shows that the control wheels moved in a back-and-forth pattern during the descent, which aviation experts interpret as a sign of a struggle between the pilots.
Expert Analysis
Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti stated that the erratic movements of the control wheels suggest two pilots were attempting to control the aircraft in opposing directions simultaneously. This interpretation points to a physical altercation in the cockpit. John Cox, another aviation safety consultant, emphasized that the fuel levers on the Boeing 737 require deliberate and forceful action to move to the cut-off position, reinforcing the likelihood of an intentional act.
Chinese authorities have yet to publish a final investigation report on the incident. The NTSB's findings add a new layer of complexity to one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent years, raising questions about the circumstances leading to the crash.
