AIR CRASH TRAGEDY

On March 21, China Eastern Airlines’ flight MU5735 from Kunming to Guangzhou crashed in Tengxian county, Guangxi, killing all 132 passengers and crew on board in China’s first fatal air crash since 2010.

The Boeing 737-800 jet plunged from its cruising altitude without prior communication, and the cause of the deadly crash remains unknown, with the plane’s two flight communicators still under analysis in Beijing and Washington. An initial report by China’s Civil Aviation Administration, released on April

20, concluded that the plane and crew had all met the safety and maintenance requirements prior to takeoff.

The tragedy also sparked debate on how the press should cover disasters, with some netizens criticizing an article by Portrait magazine, published 24 hours after the crash, for exploiting the tragedy for clicks. The reporters had reached out to families, friends, and colleagues of the victims, creating a personalized story of those onboard.