Plane Crash Investigation Stalled, No Answers After Four Years

Date: March 21, 2022
Location: Guangxi, China – a hillside near Guangzhou
Aircraft: Boeing 737‑800 (China Eastern Airlines)
Fatalities: 132 passengers and crew

What Happened?

• The aircraft departed Guangzhou at 09:00 UTC and vanished a little over an hour later.
• It crashed into a hillside, marking the worst aviation disaster in China for thirty years.
• No mechanical failure was found; investigations focused on pilot actions and air traffic control communications.

Investigation Status

• The Chinese Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) has not issued an annual update for two years.
• The fourth anniversary passed without new information, leaving families and the public in uncertainty.

Official Statements

• Pre‑flight condition: Engines and structure were fine; weather clear; crew properly licensed and rested.
• Cargo: No dangerous goods on board.
• Pilot behavior: After confirming no mechanical issues, investigators noted that the crew ignored repeated calls from air traffic control and nearby aircraft during the sudden descent.