Full Breakdown
U.S. NTSB Data Shows Fuel Switches Cut Mid-Flight in 2022 China Eastern Airlines Crash
5/7/2026, 12:47:54 AM
Key Findings from the NTSB Investigation
21 March 2022, China Eastern Airlines flight MU5735, a Boeing 737-800 from Kunming to Guangzhou, crashed into a hillside near Wuzhou, Guangxi, killing 132 aboard. NTSB analysis of the flight-data recorder shows that at 29,000 ft the fuel switches for engines moved from run to cutoff, causing engine speeds to fall.
Background and Investigation Timeline
Cockpit voice and flight-data recorders were recovered and sent to NTSB lab in Washington. After a Freedom of Information Act request, NTSB released the fuel-switch data in May 2026. Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and China Eastern Airlines have not issued a final report, and no update has appeared for over two years.
Data and Technical Details
Fatalities: 132. Cruise altitude at switch movement: 29,000 ft. Fuel levers shifted from run to cutoff, causing an engine-speed drop. On Boeing 737s, fuel switches are physical levers; a pilot must pull the switch upward before moving it to cutoff.
Official Statements and Responses
The NTSB report details the switch movement and engine-speed reduction without assigning cause. The CAAC and China Eastern Airlines declined comment. A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to answer questions about U.S. findings. Boeing referred inquiries to the CAAC, citing jurisdiction over the aircraft.
Criticism and Alternative Interpretations
Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigator Neil Campbell said turning off fuel switches is routine after landing but “almost never in flight,” implying a deliberate act. Media reports have cited speculation of a murder-suicide, though no cause has been released.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
Chinese authorities have cited national-security reasons for withholding an accident report, leaving the motive for the fuel-switch action unresolved. NTSB data confirms the mechanical event, but no explanation for mid-flight switch activation has been provided.
Implications for Aviation Safety
Findings underscore the need for transparent investigations and raise questions about pilot-initiated engine shutdowns. They may prompt reviews of cockpit-control procedures for Boeing 737 fleets and influence safety oversight.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It was found that while cruising at 29,000 feet, the fuel switches on both engines moved from the run position to the cutoff position. Engine speeds decreased after the fuel switch movement,” — NTSB
- “There’s no reason for switching the engines off, so that’s the bit that’s highly unusual,” — Neil Campbell, Australian Transport Safety Bureau
- “Fuel switches on Boeing 737 aircraft are physical controls regulating fuel flow to the engines, and a pilot must pull the switch up before moving it from run to cutoff.” — NTSB
