cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/51585379

Investigation remains stalled as evidence of pilot interference emerges [while a news analysis] has intensified scrutiny of China’s handling of the 2022 crash of China Eastern Airlines flight MU5735, with flight recorder data indicating that fuel to both engines was manually cut off and that the Boeing 737‑800 was then forced into a steep dive before impact.

The aircraft, carrying 123 passengers and nine crew, was flying from Kunming to Guangzhou on March 21, 2022 when it plunged from cruising altitude and crashed into a mountain in Guangxi province, killing all 132 people on board in China’s deadliest air disaster in decades.

More than four years on, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has yet to publish a final accident report or publicly address the cause of the jet’s sudden descent. China has previously denied that the crash was intentional and said it found no pre‑existing technical or weather issues.

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Chinese regulators have faced mounting criticism at home and abroad for their handling of the investigation and their refusal to publish a full report.

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According to The Times, when the CAAC responded last year to an information request about the case, it warned that disclosure relating to the crash could, if released, “endanger national security and social stability.” China has also previously removed social media references to foreign reports suggesting the crash was deliberate.

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Investigators in China are under increasing pressure from international aviation bodies to clarify their conclusions in light of the US data and earlier leaks pointing to human‑commanded inputs.

Global industry groups, including the International Air Transport Association, have criticised states that do not release full investigation findings, arguing that withholding information undermines efforts to improve safety.

The NTSB played a supporting role in the MU5735 probe because the aircraft was US‑manufactured. The US agency has emphasised that its role is limited to providing technical assistance and that responsibility for the conclusions and public reporting lies with the Chinese investigation authority.

To date, China has not provided a timeline for when, or if, a final report into the MU5735 crash will be made public.

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