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Investigation

Wuzhou, China: The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, operating a routine domestic service from Kunming to Guangzhou on March 21, 2022, was carrying 132 people, including 123 passengers and nine crew members. About an hour into the flight, while cruising at altitude, the aircraft suddenly entered a steep and rapid descent before plunging almost vertically into a mountainous, forested area in Guangxi. All 132 occupants were killed, and no survivors were found, marking China’s deadliest air crash. China’s aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Administration of China, launched an investigation immediately after the crash, dispatching emergency teams to the remote impact site. Due to the aircraft’s U.S. manufacture, the investigation also involved international participants, including the National Transportation Safety Board, Boeing, and the Federal Aviation Administration, who provided technical assistance. A major breakthrough in the early phase of the investigation came with the recovery of both flight recorders. The cockpit voice recorder was located on March 23, 2022, followed by the flight data recorder, which was retrieved from deep within the crash debris days later. Both devices were severely damaged due to the high-impact crash and required detailed forensic analysis, including data extraction overseas. Preliminary examination of the data indicated that the aircraft descended rapidly from around 29,000 feet, briefly stabilized, and then entered a final near-vertical dive. Air traffic controllers attempted to contact the pilots multiple times during the descent, but no distress call was made and no response was received from the cockpit. In its preliminary report released in April 2022, the CAAC ruled out several common causes of aviation accidents. Investigators found no evidence of mechanical failure, adverse weather conditions, or dangerous cargo. The aircraft was deemed airworthy and properly maintained, while the flight crew were found to be qualified, adequately rested, and medically fit. Follow-up updates issued in 2023 and 2024 reiterated these findings, stating that no abnormalities had been identified in the aircraft systems, flight operations, or air traffic control procedures. Despite these findings, investigators have not been able to establish a definitive cause of the crash. A report published in 2022 by The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials familiar with black box analysis, suggested that the aircraft may have been intentionally put into a dive from the cockpit. However, Chinese authorities have not confirmed this interpretation and have cautioned against speculation, warning that unverified conclusions could mislead the public and interfere with the investigation. Under international aviation standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization, accident investigations are expected to produce an initial report within 30 days and a final report within one year wherever possible. In the case of MU5735, a preliminary report was issued within the required timeframe, but no final report has been released even after four years. The last official update from Chinese authorities came in March 2024, with no substantive developments disclosed since then. The prolonged delay has drawn attention from global aviation bodies, including the International Air Transport Association, which has emphasized the importance of timely accident reports in improving aviation safety worldwide. As of 2026, the investigation into Flight MU5735 remains officially ongoing. No confirmed cause has been identified, and no comprehensive final report has been made public.

China’s Deadliest Crash Still Unresolved As MU5735 Probe Continues Four Years On

Aviation Today News Desk March 30, 2026

Wuzhou, China: The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, operating a routine domestic service from Kunming to Guangzhou on March 21, 2022, was carrying

NTSB Cites Runway Safety System Failed To Alert Before Deadly LaGuardia Collision

Aviation Today News Desk March 26, 2026

New York, United States: A critical runway safety alert system at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) failed to issue a warning before an

TSB Links Mechanical And Human Factors To Fort Smith Crash That Killed 6, Injured 1

Aviation Today News Desk March 21, 2026

Fort Smith, Canada: The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released its final investigation report into the January 23, 2024,

TSB Report Reveals Training Gaps Behind Fatal Chilliwack Flight Crash That Killed 2

Aviation Today News Desk March 19, 2026

Abbotsford, Canada: A fatal training flight crash near Chilliwack, British Columbia, that claimed the lives of two pilots has been linked

Nearly 12 Years On, New Search Fails to Find Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 Wreckage

Aviation Today News Desk March 15, 2026

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Nearly 12 years after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 vanished from radar on 8 March 2014, the latest deep‑sea

Jeju Air Crash Probe Finds Airport Structure May Have Worsened Deadly 2024 Disaster

Aviation Today News Desk March 14, 2026

Muan, South Korea: Investigations into the 2024 crash of a Jeju Air passenger jet in South Korea have revealed that longstanding

UK Probes Ryanair 737 Flight Low-Fuel Landing After Multiple Diversions At Manchester

Aviation Today News Desk March 7, 2026

Manchester, United Kingdom: A serious aviation incident involving a Ryanair passenger jet that landed with only minutes of fuel remaining in

SACAA Concludes Fuel Miscalculation Led To Training Aircraft Crash Into Gauteng School

Aviation Today News Desk March 5, 2026

Alberton, South Africa: The South African Civil Aviation Authority has concluded that fuel exhaustion caused the crash of a training aircraft

NTSB: Bird Strike Caused Engine Failure, Smoke Alert On Alaska Cargo A330 In Cincinnati

Aviation Today News Desk March 2, 2026

Kentucky, United States: According to an official preliminary release from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a cargo aircraft operated by

Baramati, India: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary report into the accident involving a Learjet 45XR aircraft, registration VT-SSK, which crash-landed at Baramati on 28 January 2026, resulting in five fatalities including the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. IMPORTANT NOTE: As per the AAIB, this report contains preliminary factual information subject to change. In accordance with ICAO Annex 13, the sole objective of this investigation is the prevention of future accidents and not the apportioning of blame or liability. No final conclusions should be drawn from this document at this stage. The aircraft, operated by M/s VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd., was conducting a non-scheduled passenger flight from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai) to Baramati. The accident occurred at approximately 0316 UTC (0846 IST) during the landing phase on Runway 11 at the uncontrolled Baramati airfield. Aircraft and Crew The aircraft was a Learjet 45XR (Serial No. 417), manufactured in 2010 and powered by Honeywell TFE 731-20BR-1B engines. It held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and Airworthiness Review Certificate at the time of the accident. The aircraft had accumulated 4,915:48 total airframe hours. On board were two flight crew members, one cabin attendant and two passengers. All five occupants sustained fatal injuries. The Pilot-in-Command, aged 61, held an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) and had 18,855 total flying hours, including 2,815 hours on type. The First Officer, aged 25, held a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and had 2,490 total flying hours, including 2,243 hours on type. Both pilots were current and medically valid. Pre-flight breath analyser tests conducted prior to departure were reported as negative. Flight and Approach The flight departed Mumbai after filing a flight plan to Baramati, with Pune and Mumbai listed as alternates. The aircraft took off from Runway 27 at Mumbai and climbed to FL190 before descending toward Baramati. Baramati is an uncontrolled airfield managed by M/s Maharashtra Airport Development Company Limited (MADC). The aerodrome permits only Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations and does not have navigational aids other than windsocks. The runway orientation is 11/29, with displaced thresholds of 1,400 ft for Runway 11 and 500 ft for Runway 29. According to the report, the airfield does not have a Meteorological (MET) facility. Weather information is relayed using instruments installed in a temporary tower operated by one of the flying training organisations based at the airfield. During the initial approach, the crew requested visibility information and were advised it was 3 kilometres. The report notes that the visibility required for VFR flight is 5 kilometres. The aircraft continued the approach but initiated a go-around. On the second approach to Runway 11, the aircraft reported the field in sight and was cleared to land. Winds were reported as calm. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft was heard transmitting “Oh S**T Oh S**T” before impacting terrain to the left of Runway 11, abeam the threshold. CCTV footage from a nearby village reportedly showed the aircraft banking to the right before striking trees and impacting ground approximately 50 metres left of the runway edge. The aircraft was engulfed in fire and was destroyed. Aerodrome Observations During on-site inspection, investigators observed faded runway markings and the presence of loose gravel on the runway surface. The last runway re-carpeting was conducted in March 2016. The report also states that the aerodrome does not have an in-house Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) unit. Firefighting and ambulance services are provided by the Baramati Municipal Corporation upon request. Additionally, the aerodrome does not have a boundary wall, and fencing was reported to be inadequate. Weather Context METAR data from nearby controlled airports showed reduced visibility conditions on the morning of the accident. Pune reported visibility as low as 2,000 metres between 0240 and 0300 UTC, while Mumbai reported 2,500 metres visibility during the period. Satellite imagery from INSAT-3DR indicated no significant clouding over Pune but suggested the presence of shallow fog patches in the vicinity of Baramati. Flight Recorders Both the Solid-State Flight Data Recorder (SSFDR) and Solid-State Cockpit Voice Recorder (SSCVR) were recovered from the tail section. Although both units sustained thermal damage, raw data from the SSFDR has been successfully downloaded at the AAIB laboratory in New Delhi and is under analysis. Due to thermal damage and manufacturer considerations, assistance has been sought from the United States to recover data from the SSCVR, in accordance with ICAO Annex 13 provisions. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), USA, has appointed an Accredited Representative and technical advisers to assist in the investigation. Interim Safety Recommendations Based on interim findings, the AAIB has issued safety recommendations to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). These include directing operators conducting VFR flights to uncontrolled airfields to strictly adhere to standard operating procedures, and ensuring flying operations are permitted only when prevailing meteorological conditions meet regulatory criteria. The AAIB has also recommended that DGCA issue directions to stakeholders responsible for managing uncontrolled airfields to maintain required safety standards, enhance landing aids and basic MET facilities, and examine the feasibility of licensing such aerodromes for regulated operations.

Preliminary Report On Baramati Crash Flags Low Visibility, Instructor-Handled Tower

Aviation Today News Desk February 28, 2026

Baramati, India: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary report into the accident involving a Learjet 45XR aircraft,

Investigation

China’s Deadliest Crash Still Unresolved As MU5735 Probe Continues Four Years On

NTSB Cites Runway Safety System Failed To Alert Before Deadly LaGuardia Collision

TSB Links Mechanical And Human Factors To Fort Smith Crash That Killed 6, Injured 1

TSB Report Reveals Training Gaps Behind Fatal Chilliwack Flight Crash That Killed 2

Nearly 12 Years On, New Search Fails to Find Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 Wreckage

Jeju Air Crash Probe Finds Airport Structure May Have Worsened Deadly 2024 Disaster

UK Probes Ryanair 737 Flight Low-Fuel Landing After Multiple Diversions At Manchester

SACAA Concludes Fuel Miscalculation Led To Training Aircraft Crash Into Gauteng School

NTSB: Bird Strike Caused Engine Failure, Smoke Alert On Alaska Cargo A330 In Cincinnati

Preliminary Report On Baramati Crash Flags Low Visibility, Instructor-Handled Tower

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