In March of 2022, a China Eastern Airlines flight crashed, killing 132 passengers on board. The crash occurred as the flight was leaving Kunming, with a destination of Guangzhou. Investigation into the crash is currently underway, but what is known is that the aircraft was flying at cruising altitude when it suddenly lost altitude and ultimately crashed into a hillside.
In early April 2022, over 200 aircraft were grounded by China Eastern Airlines, for safety reasons, because the cause of the crash had not yet been determined. The crash, which involved a Boeing airplane, came in the aftermath of two Boeing crashes in recent years.
There are countless causes of airplane crashes, but some common causes include:
- Defective manufacturing/design of the aircraft itself
- Inadequately trained pilot
- Pilot error or other human factors
- Aircraft maintenance negligence
- Air traffic control — government or contractor error
- Obstructions
- Poor weather conditions
- Metal fatigue