New data suggests fuel cutoff in China Eastern plane crash:Probe continues as investigators seek cause behind deadly 2022 disaster

Fresh data released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has shed new light on the 2022 crash of a Boeing 737-800 operated by China Eastern Airlines, suggesting that fuel supply to both engines may have been manually switched off moments before the aircraft went down. What the new data reveals According to the NTSB, flight data recorder information shows that while cruising at approximately 29,000 feet, the fuel switches for both engines moved from the “run” to “cutoff” position simultaneously. This led to a rapid loss of engine power and the aircraft’s subsequent descent. Investigators noted that these switches are physical controls that require deliberate action, indicating they were likely moved manually. Aviation safety analyst David Soucie said there was no indication that the switches were turned back on, suggesting no attempt was made to restart the engines. Crash background The incident occurred on March 21, 2022, when Flight MU5735 crashed into mountainous terrain in China’s Guangxi region. The aircraft was en route from Kunming to Guangzhou when it lost contact with air traffic control over Wuzhou. All 132 people on board, including 123 passengers and nine crew members, were killed, making it China’s deadliest air disaster in decades. Investigation status Despite the scale of the tragedy, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has not released a final report explaining the cause of the crash. The flight data recorder was recovered and analysed in the United States, as Boeing is the aircraft manufacturer. The cockpit voice recorder also captured audio using backup power, though US investigators said they did not retain copies of the recordings shared with Chinese authorities. Expert views and caution Experts have cautioned against drawing definitive conclusions from the newly released data. Aviation consultant Tony Stanton said the findings alone do not establish motive, intent, or who operated the controls. However, he noted that the sequence of events is difficult to explain through conventional mechanical failure and appears more consistent with deliberate fuel cutoff. He stressed that final conclusions must rely on a full analysis, including cockpit recordings and validated investigation data. Earlier findings and speculation Previous reports had also pointed to possible human intervention in the cockpit, though Chinese authorities have denied that the crash was intentional. In its preliminary report, the CAAC stated that there were no abnormalities in the aircraft’s systems, crew performance, or weather conditions before the incident. Ongoing concerns The lack of a final investigation report has drawn criticism, with questions raised about transparency and delays in disclosing detailed findings from the “black boxes.” The crash continues to be a subject of global scrutiny, as investigators work to determine the exact sequence of events behind one of China’s most devastating aviation disasters. ​