On March 21, 2022, a China Eastern Airlines plane crashed in a mountainous area in Guangxi, China. The crash killed 123 passengers and nine crew members.
It is now believed that the crash was intentional.
The descent of the plane, a nose-drive to the ground, would have required “intentional force,” according to officials investigating the crash. The force of the crash was so intense, it created a 66-foot deep crater in the ground.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report the news.
According to the black box’s flight data, someone in the cockpit might have intentionally crashed the plane. The cockpit voice recorder was found on March 23. The flight data recorder was discovered on March 27.
The airline told the Wall Street Journal that the pilots were in good health and had no known financial issues of concern. There is speculation, however, that some personal issues were involved.
Although it appears that the crash occurred due to a pilot’s action in the cockpit, it is also possible that someone on the plane stormed the cockpit and took over the plane.
Chinese investigators of the crash haven’t indicated any mechanical issues with the plane – a Boeing 737-800.
The US National Transportation Safety Board said it will provide updates as it receives information on the investigation from China’s Civil Aviation Administration.
Chinese investigators continue to analyze data from the black boxes.