Newly released US aviation data has reinforced long-standing suspicions that China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735 was deliberately crashed in 2022, killing all 132 passengers and crew on board. The findings, issued by the US National Transportation Safety Board, align with earlier leaked assessments suggesting that the Boeing 737 was intentionally put into a fatal descent while flying between Kunming and Guangzhou. The revelations have renewed global scrutiny over the circumstances of one of China’s deadliest modern aviation disasters.
According to the data decoded from flight recorders, the aircraft’s fuel switches were moved from the run position to cut-off while the jet was cruising at high altitude, causing both engines to lose power. The cockpit voice and flight data recordings indicate a struggle between pilots over control of the aircraft, with conflicting inputs suggesting one pilot pushed the plane into a steep dive while another attempted to recover it. The aircraft ultimately plunged vertically into mountainous terrain in Guangxi province, with no emergency distress call made before impact.
Despite mounting international attention, Chinese authorities have not released a full investigation report, citing concerns over national security and social stability. The lack of transparency has drawn criticism from aviation experts and foreign regulators, particularly as similar cases of suspected pilot suicide have emerged globally in recent years. Pressure is increasing on Beijing to disclose full findings, especially as other major aviation investigations, including the ongoing review of Air India Flight 171, have brought renewed focus to cockpit safety and pilot mental health.
The US agency, which assisted in decoding the recovered flight recorders shortly after the crash, confirmed that engine shutdowns occurred mid-flight and that cockpit inputs showed competing control actions. While some earlier Chinese statements suggested all systems were functioning normally, the new data contradicts those claims. The cockpit recordings, which were sent to Chinese investigators but not publicly released, remain a central piece of evidence in understanding the final moments of the flight.
The crash involved three pilots on board, and speculation has centered on one experienced crew member who had reportedly faced recent professional demotion. Aviation analysts note that intentional cockpit interference, though rare, has been a contributing factor in several major disasters over the past decade, including the Germanwings crash in 2015 and other suspected cases worldwide. The incident has also reignited broader concerns about mental health screening and monitoring standards in commercial aviation.
Global aviation bodies have repeatedly urged greater transparency in accident reporting, warning that withheld or incomplete investigations limit the ability to improve safety standards. As international pressure grows, the China Eastern disaster remains a highly sensitive and unresolved case, with its final official report still awaited and its implications continuing to resonate across the aviation industry.
