WASHINGTON — May 9, 2026 — New U.S. safety board data on a 2022 China Eastern crash indicate key systems were shut off midair.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), fuel shutoff switches for both engines were moved simultaneously while the aircraft was still airborne, CNN reported.
The Times reported the cockpit voice and flight data recorders were turned off by hand and the autopilot was disengaged before the descent.
According to the NTSB, the flight data recorder stopped when the aircraft lost power at 26,000 feet.
Authorities said China Eastern Airlines Flight MU5735 crashed near Wuzhou on March 21, 2022, while traveling from Kunming to Guangzhou, killing 132 people, including 123 passengers and nine crew.
According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, no issues were found with the aircraft, its crew, or the weather before the crash, and the crew held valid licenses and passed health checks that day.
Authorities said the investigation remains open and no final cause has been announced.