Chinese plane crash update: No survivors found

A Chinese jet plane heading easterly with 132 onboard crashed yesterday in the southwestern Chinese region of Guangxi.

Owned by China Eastern Airlines Corp, the plane Boeing 737-800 was heading from Kunming in southwest China to the southeastern city of Guangzhou.

The plane took off at 1:15 p.m. local time. Then a sudden plunge began before crashing to the ground at 2:38 a.m. local time.

Rescue operations that swept the site shortly after the incident in Tingxian District, southern Guangxi Province, attempted to extinguish a massive fireball before discovering many identities, bank cards, and mud-stained wallets belonging to the 123 passengers nine crew members that were on board.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China reported that the plane crashed in a mountainous area where shattered and dispatched parts of the wreckage were found.

Due to the rugged terrain and the site’s remoteness, rescue teams faced significant difficulties in reaching the site.

According to the official Xinhua News Agency, searching for the black boxes that hold the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, elements essential to investigate plane crashes, would be difficult.

Seven hundred local firefighters were deployed on-site, in addition to 500 others sent from neighboring Guangzhou province, assisted by 80 sent by the Chinese military to help in the rescue effort.

Following the tragedy, China Eastern expressed deep condolences to the families of the lost passengers and crew members, announcing that it will ground all of its Boeing 737-800 jets starting today.

In addition, an emergency telephone assistance line was set up for the families as they gathered at both airports.