China’s investigation into the plane crash, search and rescue nearly complete, report out soon

By Ernest Ogezi – A Chinese aviation official, Thursday, disclosed that China has completed the core search and rescue work at the site of the recent plane crash.

It said China plans to complete a preliminary report on the China Eastern Airlines (600115.SS) plane crash within 30 days of the event.

Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) safety head Zhu Tao told reporters that a final report into the crash of the Boeing (BA.N) 737-800 would be completed and made public after the investigation is concluded.

The plane crashed into a mountainside in southern China on March 21, killing all 132 people onboard.

Under international rules, a 30-day report must be lodged with the U.N. aviation agency ICAO but it does not need to be public.

A final report was due within a year of the crash, though sometimes it can take longer.

Zhu said authorities have done preliminary analyses of the crash, such as predicting the possible trajectory, position and impact force of the aeroplane when it hit the ground and reading data from air traffic control radar systems.

CAAC investigators are also working to decode the data from both the black boxes, he added.

Investigators from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board are set to travel to China to support the CAAC’s investigation into mainland China’s deadliest aviation disaster in 28 years.

Zhu said over 40,000 pieces of aircraft wreckage and debris have been found and the majority of the pieces have been transported to a hangar.

NAN