Authorities seize flight data from Air China plane that plummeted 25,000 feet after suspicions of pilots smoking in cockpit
Civil Aviation Administration of China confirms probe into sudden descent by Tuesday’s flight CA106 to Dalian
Chinese authorities have seized flight data and voice recorders from a plane flying from Hong Kong after it made an emergency descent suspected to have been caused by smoking in the cockpit.
“The investigation team has examined the plane’s status, sealed the relevant flight data and information, and talked to the crew members. The (CAAC) Northeast Regional Administration has sent the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder to the China Academy of Civil Aviation Science and Technology for analysis. Further investigation will follow,” a CAAC statement said.
Oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling of the Boeing 737 that was carrying 153 passengers and nine crew on board, descending to 10,000 feet, though the plane later climbed back to 26,000 feet and arrived safely at its destination.
There were no reported injuries and the aircraft was not damaged, the aviation regulator said.
The CAAC said the emergency descent was triggered by a cockpit altitude warning.