Horrifying moment plane with 132 passengers 'nosedives' into Chinese mountain

21 March 2022, 08:30 | Updated: 21 March 2022, 14:37

Footage appears to show the moment the plane nosedives and crashes
Footage appears to show the moment the plane nosedives and crashes. Picture: Social media

By Asher McShane

Horrifying footage appears to show the moment a passenger plane with 132 passengers on board crashed into a mountain in China.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The Boeing 737 passenger plane flight MU5735 from Kunming to Guangzhou came down in Guangxi province in southern China.

Footage posted online appears to a show an object - purportedly a plane - crashing in a straight, vertical plummet from the sky, similar to a nosedive. The actual impact cannot be seen behind the trees and it is unconfirmed if the clip does show the crash.

The China Eastern flight 5753 was travelling at around 30,000ft when it entered a dive.

Rescue teams are understood to be in attendance at the crash site. The number of casualties is unclear.

The crash has sparked a large fire on the hillside, as onlookers recorded the blaze from afar.

A huge plume of smoke could be seen rising over the forest, with tall flames rising in a snaking line around what appears to be part of the crash site.

Other social media users posted clips of wrecked plane parts strewn across the foliage, with some saying rescue teams had been dispatched.

Chinese president Xi Jinping said he was "shocked" by the incident and called for an investigation.

The aircraft was due to fly from Kunming, in the south of the country, and fly east to Guangzhou at 1.15pm local time.

But it came down in Teng County, to the west of Guangzhou. Police first took calls from villagers alerting them about the crash around 2.30pm, or 6.30am GMT.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China [CAAC] said: "The CAAC has activated the emergency mechanism and sent a working group to the scene."

It added that contact with the plane was lost over Wuzhou.

More than 100 rescuers are at the scene, the People’s Daily said, while Guangxi fire department is sending some 650 responders to the site.

Boeing, the US aerospace company, said it was "working to gather more information".

Reuters said China’s airline industry has had one of the best air safety records in the world in the past decade.

The last accident that resulted in deaths was in 2010, when a jet crashed coming in to Yichun airport during low visibility. A total of 44 of the 96 on board died.

Footage from China purports to show crash site of jet

The crash happened on a mountainside in the south of China
The crash happened on a mountainside in the south of China. Picture: Google Maps

This story is being updated

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Matt Gaetz withdraws as Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general amid sexual misconduct allegations

Donald Trump nominates Pam Bondi for attorney general hours after Matt Gaetz withdraws

Starmer has backed the International Criminal Court over its arrest warrant for Netanyahu

Netanyahu faces arrest if he travels to Britain as Starmer vows to enforce International Criminal Court warrant

Putin issued a chilling threat to the West as he confirmed Russia launched a ballistic missile against Ukraine

Putin issues chilling warning to UK and US as he confirms Russia hit Ukraine with new 'experimental' ballistic missile

Matt Gaetz withdraws as Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general amid sexual misconduct allegations

Matt Gaetz withdraws as Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general amid sexual misconduct allegations

Donald Trump Watches SpaceX Launch Its Sixth Test Flight Of Starship Spacecraft

Elon Musk pledges to fire civil servants who work from home

Starmer has backed the International Criminal Court over its arrest warrant for Netanyahu

Starmer backs International Criminal Court after it issues arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu

Simone White has died following a poisoning with alcoholic drinks at a bar in Loas

British lawyer, 28, dies following suspected mass methanol poisoning at bar in Laos

'But where are the hams?': Police launch manhunt after thieves steal €200,000 of prized Christmas meat

Police hunt Spanish hamburglars after thieves steal €200,000 of prized Christmas meat

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the Hebrew calendar anniversary of the Hamas attack on October 7 last year

Arrest warrants issued for Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu, former defence minister and Hamas chief over 'war crimes'

Kyiv says Russia has fired an intercontinental ballistic missile in an attack on Ukraine

Russia's revenge: Moscow 'launches intercontinental ballistic missile’ in attack on Ukraine

(L) British lawyer Simone White, 28, is seriously ill in hospital. (R) Bianca Jones, 19, has become the fourth person to die after consuming alleged 'methanol-laced' drinks in Vang Vieng, Laos

London lawyer fights for her life and Australian backpacker dies after drinking 'methanol-laced' shots from bar in Laos

Russia is threatening to use new missiles in Ukraine after US and UK rockets were used in their territory

Putin 'to retaliate with new Frontier missiles in Ukraine' after US and UK give green light to fire rockets in Russia

The tourist died in the Patong are of Phuket.

British tourist found dead in Phuket storm drain after going missing on night out

Marcus Fakana, 18, is facing 20-years behind bars.

Brit teenager, 18, facing 20-year jail sentence for 'holiday romance' with 17-year-old girl in Dubai

Simone White, Holly Bowles, Bianca Jones

British tourists 'in hospital with methanol poisoning' after drinking toxic shots in Laos holiday spot

New York priest sacked after allowing Sabrina Carpenter to film racy music video in his church

New York priest sacked after allowing Sabrina Carpenter to film racy music video in church