March 21, 2022, marks the tragic four-year anniversary of the China Eastern Boeing 737-800 crash, claiming the lives of all 132 individuals aboard, including nine crew members and 123 passengers.
Several years later, Chinese aviation authorities have yet to disclose the official cause of the plane crash. They declined to release the final report in June 2025, citing concerns about national security and social stability.
The ill-fated China Eastern Airlines flight MU5735 crashed in south China’s Guangxi province after suddenly plunging almost vertically into a mountain.
The catastrophic incident resulted in the loss of all 132 lives on board within moments. The flight was en route from Kunming to Guangzhou, taking off without issues reported, but later descended rapidly from 29,000 feet to 7,400 feet in a sudden nosedive.
Flight data reveals a brief pull-up to 8,500 feet before a second nosedive led to the fatal crash in a span of about two minutes. Despite repeated calls, the pilots did not respond as the aircraft rapidly descended.
This tragedy, dubbed China’s deadliest aviation disaster in three decades, rocked the world and raised concerns within the global aviation sector. Families of the victims were left devastated by the sudden loss.
Following the recovery of two severely damaged Black Box flight recorders, investigations found no anomalies or faults prior to the flight regarding the aircraft, engines, weather conditions, or communications.
Chinese authorities confirmed that the flight crew possessed valid licenses, had ample rest, and passed health assessments on the day of the flight. No hazardous goods were aboard the aircraft, and weather conditions were deemed safe.
China Eastern Airlines President Sun Shiying affirmed that all three pilots were licensed and in good health, with no reported issues within their families. These statements were reiterated by the airline to the Wall Street Journal in May of the same year.
According to a report from the WSJ in May 2022, initial assessments by US officials suggested intentional actions led to the crash. Data from the Black Box indicated deliberate control inputs that caused the fatal nosedive.
An expert familiar with the preliminary assessment stated that the aircraft followed commands from someone in the cockpit. Analysis of the flight-data recorder recordings supported this conclusion.
Investigators were looking into the possibility of the crash being a deliberate act, following reports of intentional actions. The Civil Aviation Administration of China denounced the speculation, stating it hindered the investigation work.
As of June 2025, the official report’s release was refused, citing concerns for national security and social stability. The cause of the tragic crash remains unresolved, leaving families and the aviation industry seeking closure four years later.