Causes
Official investigators identified rapid descent from cruise in 2 of the incidents we cover, from 1997 to 2022. Each account explains how it arose in that case. A shared topic does not mean the same cause.
Last updated
| Date | Flight | Aircraft | Location | Fatalities | Report status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 March 2022 | China Eastern 5735 | Boeing 737-800 | Near Molang village, Teng County, Wuzhou, Guangxi, China | 132 aboard | LEVEL 2 Preliminary findings |
| 19 December 1997 | SilkAir Flight 185 | Boeing 737-300 | Musi River delta, north-north-east of Palembang, Indonesia | 104 aboard; no fatalities on the ground | LEVEL 3 Final report |
A Boeing 737-800 descended rapidly from 8,900 metres and crashed near Wuzhou, killing all 132 people aboard. CAAC published preliminary findings and later reported continuing cause analysis.
Incident date:
LEVEL 2 Preliminary findings
A Boeing 737 descended from 35,000 feet into the Musi River, killing all 104 aboard. Indonesia could not determine the cause; NTSB concluded that intentional pilot action explained the accident.
Incident date:
LEVEL 3 Final report