A China Eastern passenger jet carrying 133 people has crashed in southwest China and caused a mountain fire with casualties unknown, state broadcaster CCTV reported Monday.
The Boeing 737 plane crashed in the rural countryside near Wuzhou city, Guangxi region and “caused a mountain fire”, CCTV said, citing the provincial emergency management bureau.
The report added that rescue teams were dispatched to the scene.
CCTV said a “China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737 plane carrying 133 people has crashed in Teng county, Wuzhou, Guangxi, and caused a mountain fire.”
Local media reported that China Eastern flight MU5735 had not arrived at its scheduled destination in Guangzhou after it took off from the city of Kunming shortly after 1:00 pm (0500 GMT) Monday, citing airport staff.
There was no immediate response from China Eastern when contacted by AFP.
Chinese state media said that as of Tuesday, no survivors had been found, according to The Associated Press. Chinese state TV reported there were no foreigners on board.
China Eastern said the cause of the crash was “still under investigation” and it did not provide any detail, but in an official filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange it expressed “its deep condolences for the passengers and crew members who died in the plane crash.”
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