Aerospace

Chinese plane crash that killed 132 caused by intentional act: US officials

After a precipitous descent from cruise altitude, the China Eastern Airline Boeing 737-800 jet crashed in the mountains of Guangxi in March, killing all 123 passengers and nine crew members on board.

According to the Wall Street Journal, flight data from a black box recovered from a China Eastern Airlines plane that crashed in March reveals that someone in the cockpit deliberately crashed the plane, citing people familiar with US officials’ first assessment.
A Western official told Reuters that the focus is on the crew’s behaviour after a preliminary investigation found no evidence of a technical malfunction.

The plane’s maker, Boeing, declined to comment and directed any inquiries to Chinese officials. The United States’ National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) did not respond swiftly.

In March, a Boeing 737-800 aeroplane flying from Kunming to Guangzhou crashed in the Guangxi highlands following a steep drop from cruise altitude, killing all 123 passengers and nine crew members on board. It was mainland China’s deadliest plane crash in 28 years.

In mid-April, China Eastern resumed flying the 737-800 planes. Despite the fact that the 737-800 has been in service since 1997 and has a stellar safety record, Chinese regulators made no technical recommendations in a summary of their preliminary crash study released last month.

How has Boeing’s B787 dreamliner turned into a nightmare?

In a May 10 Reuters interview, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy claimed that board investigators and Boeing had come to China to assist the Chinese inquiry. She stated that the study had uncovered no safety hazards that required immediate attention.

If the board has any safety concerns, Homendy said the board will “make urgent safety recommendations.”

Why did Boeing choose Airworks MRO facilities for the P-8I Fleet at this location?

Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.