Air Crash Pilots Healthy, Experienced

Home>>China

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, May 09, 2002

Air Crash Pilots Healthy, Experienced

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Two pilots of the Chinese jetliner carrying 112 people aboard which plunged into the waters off northeast China's Dalian City on May 7 had good piloting skills and were in good health before the crash.

Yang Yuanyuan, deputy head of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), said at a Thursday press conference that the plane's cargo load including fuel was also within normal levels, according to Beijing International Airport records.

The plane had navigation problems before the crash, he said.

Wang Yongxiang, captain and pilot of the crashed MD-82 plane was born in 1967 and had flown a total of 11,000 hours while the co-pilot, born in 1973, had flown 3,300 hours.

The official said the two pilots' licenses were valid.

Their physical checks on May 6 and May 7 indicated that they both were in good health, Yang said.

The plane, delivered on July 12, 1991, had flown 26,700 hours, with a total of 16,000 take-offs and landings.

The plane had suspended its flights for a thorough overhaul between March 27 and April 2.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Rescuers Focus on Finding Crashed Plane's Black Box

No Survivors Found in China Northern Air Crash

China Northern Airlines Plane Crashes

>> Full Coverage

Carl Marx Still Remembered by Chinese ( 58 Messages)

Protests Prompt Retailer to Pull T-shirts Mocking Chinese-Americans ( 280 Messages)

Jiang Calls for Joint Efforts Towards Growth of Sino-US Ties ( 147 Messages)

Know Who to Love, Who to Hate ( 290 Messages)

"Washington Times" at Anti-China Tricks Again ( 103 Messages)

China's Economy to Grow Above Six Percent ( 71 Messages)

China's First Magnetic Suspension Test Track Built ( 53 Messages)

Harvard Project in China Violates Farmers' Rights ( 3 Messages)

Spirit of May 4 Movement Still Inspires Chinese Youth ( 25 Messages)