China Eastern Crash Report Reveals Engine Fuel Cutoff Mid-Flight
Reflecto News | Investigative | Aviation
More than four years after a Boeing 737-800 passenger jet plunged 29,000 feet and crashed into a mountain in southern China, newly released data indicates that someone in the cockpit intentionally switched off the fuel supply to both engines.
The documents, released by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, show the final moments of China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735 with stunning clarity: the simultaneous shutdown of both engines, followed by a violent push of the control yoke, and an active struggle to control the plane until it hit the ground.
🕹️ Cockpit Actions: ‘The Plane Did What It Was Told To Do’
According to the flight data recorder (FDR), the sequence of events was methodical. Approximately 23 seconds before the recorder stopped functioning, the fuel control switches for both of the Boeing 737-800’s engines were simultaneously moved from the RUN position to the CUTOFF position.
This action—which on a 737 requires the pilot to physically lift a lever before moving it—starved the engines of fuel. Seconds later, the autopilot was disengaged.
| Timestamp (Pre-Crash) | Cockpit Action | Aircraft Reaction |
|---|---|---|
| T-0:23 | Fuel switches moved to CUTOFF (both engines) | Engines begin to lose power |
| T-0:20 | Autopilot disengaged | Aircraft nose drops into steep dive |
| T-0:23 | FDR stops recording | Aircraft continues descent (CVR still active) |
The FDR stopped recording when onboard generators failed at approximately 26,000 feet. However, the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) continued on backup battery power.
🔎 A Pattern of Intent: The ‘Deliberate Event’
Aviation experts have weighed in on the data, describing the fuel cutoff as “highly unusual” and suggestive of a “deliberate event”. David Soucie, an aviation safety analyst, noted that there was no indication the switches were turned back on, meaning no attempt was made to restart the engines.
Neil Campbell, a former air safety investigator at the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, told Bloomberg that it is routine for jet fuel switches to be turned off after the plane has landed, but “almost never” in flight. “There’s no reason for switching the engines off, so that’s the bit that’s highly unusual,” Campbell added.
The crash of Flight MU5735 killed all 132 people on board, making it China’s deadliest aviation disaster in decades.
📜 Unanswered Questions and Silence from Beijing
Despite the scale of the tragedy, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has not released a final report, citing “national security” concerns.
The CVR audio, which was downloaded and handed over to China’s CAAC, has not been made public. The NTSB stated it did not retain a copy of that audio file.
The CAAC has denied claims of intentional action, maintaining that the aircraft, crew, and weather all showed no anomalies prior to the crash. As the international community awaits answers, the families of the 132 victims continue to push for transparency.
📋 Key Takeaways for Reflecto News Readers
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| The Discovery | NTSB data shows fuel supply to both engines was manually cut mid-flight. |
| The Aircraft | Boeing 737-800 (China Eastern Flight MU5735) |
| Date of Crash | March 21, 2022 |
| Fatalities | 132 (123 passengers, 9 crew) |
| The Location | Guangxi region, southern China |
| Status of CVR | Audio transferred to China; not released publicly. |
| China’s Position | Has not released a final report; denies pilot suicide claims. |
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