Rescuers conduct search and rescue work at a plane crash site in Tengxian County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 24, 2022. Photo: Xinhua

A preliminary investigation report in English and Chinese will be submitted to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) within 30 days after the recent plane crash, according to a press conference on Friday afternoon. 

According to the regulations, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) needs to submit a preliminary investigation report to the ICAO within 30 days of the accident occurring. The investigation team will conduct accident investigations in accordance with the requirements, Mao Yanfeng, director of the CAAC's accident investigation unit, said at a press conference on Friday in Wuzhou, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Search and rescue work is still the most important task, and the search team is watching camera footage and talking to witnesses while trying to find further clues. 

Although no survivors have yet been found, we have never given up on finding survivors, said Zhu Tao, director of the aviation safety office of CAAC. 

It is the fourth day since China Eastern's Boeing 737-800 plane crashed, plunging people across the country into grief as there were 132 people on board, including nine crew members. 

As of the latest progress of the first black box's data analysis, Mao Yanfeng, director of the CAAC's accident investigation unit, said a laboratory in Beijing has been downloading and analyzing data from the cockpit voice recorder. 

"There is still no definite time when the process will be completed," Mao said. 

Communication was normal until the flight went missing, and the crew members did not send any distress signal, Liu Xiaodong, spokesperson of China Eastern Airlines, said at the press conference.

As of 3pm Friday, some remains of the victims, 18 fingerprints and 101 relics were found at the scene.

The local government has arranged 2,248 rescue forces, and more than 100 sets of various types of vehicles and equipment for the search. The search area has been expanded to nearly 200,000 square meters.

Officials said the engine gearbox of the crashed aircraft and remnants of the aircraft's main landing gear were found in the core area of the scene.

China Eastern Airlines said it has provided a complete list of passengers to the investigation team, and has contacted all of the passengers' families.

When asked if the airline will make public the list, Liu said the airline needs to fully respect the privacy of passengers and the wishes of their families, and also comply with relevant legal requirements.

Global Times