Chinese Authorities: No Explosive Traces Found in Wreckage of Crashed Passenger Plane

On the 21st, debris from the China Eastern Airlines passenger plane crash was scattered at the accident site in Teng County, Wuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. (Photo by Xinhua, Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Chinese authorities announced on the 21st that no traces of explosives were found in the wreckage of the China Eastern Airlines passenger plane that crashed with 132 passengers on board.

Zhu Tao, Director of the Civil Aviation Administration's Aviation Safety Office, explained at a press conference held by the China Eastern Airlines Flight Accident Emergency Response Headquarters on the 26th, "Out of 66 samples taken from the wreckage found at the site, 41 were tested and no inorganic or organic explosive substances were detected."

The fact that no explosives were detected at the accident site is an important clue in determining the cause of the accident, indicating that the plane did not crash due to a bomb terror or explosion accident.

Regarding the search for survivors and victims, Director Zhu stated, "No survivors have been found yet," and added, "Through on-site search and examination, the identities of 120 passengers were confirmed, including 114 passengers and 6 crew members."

The rescue team is continuing to search for the second black box, the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), to determine the cause of the accident along with the search for survivors. Director Zhu explained, "The rescue team found the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) installed near the FDR," and added, "The rescue team is intensifying the search for survivors and aircraft wreckage including the FDR, without giving up any hope."

Earlier, China Eastern Airlines flight MU5735, carrying 123 passengers and 9 crew members, crashed on the afternoon of the 21st in a mountainous area near Tengxian, Wuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, while en route from Kunming, Yunnan Province to Guangzhou, Guangdong Province.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.