New Delhi: A Chinese plane carrying 132 people crashed in the mountainous region of south China’s Guangxi on Monday, the country’s civil aviation administration (CAAC) said.
The China Eastern Airlines jet was flying from the city of Kunming to Guangzhou when it went missing over Wuzhou city, the CAAC said. It lost contact less than an hour before it was to land at 0622 GMT. It was cruising at an altitude of 3,225 feet with a speed of 376 knots, Reuters reported.
Flight tracking data suggested the plane plunged sharply, falling 8,800 metres in just a few minutes.
The statement read: “The CAAC has activated the emergency mechanism and sent a working group to the scene.” The plane was carrying 123 passengers and nine crew members. Initial media reports had said there were 133 people on board.
Rescue teams have been rushed to the spot where a fire started from the crash. There are no sign of survivors.. There is also no word on what caused the crash.
Nearly 600 rescue personnel were sent in by neighbouring administrations to the site, including 120 firefighters from Wuzhou. These men walked most of the way as the approach to the crash site was not motorable. The fire was put out in a few hours.
A “shocked” President Xi Jinping ordered a probe into the crash and demanded immediate reports, state media reported. He also asked companies to ensure “absolute” aviation safety.
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