Chinese officials confirmed that all 132 passengers and crew aboard China Eastern Airlines flight MU5735 died after the plane crashed in southern China on Monday.
The Boeing 737-800 jet was flying from Kunming to Guangzhou when it suddenly nose-dived and crashed into a heavily forested area near Wuzhou in Guangxi province.
Difficult Search Efforts in Remote Area
Rescue teams have so far identified 120 victims through DNA analysis, aviation officials reported. The recovery operation has been hampered by muddy conditions in the remote, hilly terrain.
Hu Zhenjiang, deputy director-general of China’s civil aviation administration, said the search would continue for human remains and wreckage parts.
Black Boxes Found
Both black boxes from the aircraft have now been recovered. The flight data recorder was found on Saturday, while the cockpit voice recorder had already been located and sent to Beijing for expert analysis.
Investigators hope the devices will provide crucial information on why the jet crashed just an hour into its journey.
Boeing Assists With Investigation
Aircraft manufacturer Boeing, which produced the 737-800 model, said its technical team is supporting the investigation alongside the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Chinese authorities.
Following the crash, President Xi Jinping called for a full-scale investigation to determine the cause.
China’s Deadliest Aviation Disaster in Decades
The crash is China’s most deadly aviation disaster in nearly 30 years, prompting a national outpouring of grief. Families of the victims have been waiting for updates as rescue teams continue combing the crash site.
