MU5735

China's civil aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), refuted rumors surrounding the tragic crash of China Eastern flight MU5735, saying the tragic accident is still under investigation, and no conclusions has been drawn on the cause and nature of the accident yet.

Online speculation has been swirling over the co-pilot "might be responsible" for the crash, claiming the black boxes data has been disclosed, with some believing that the CAAC will require flight crews to undergo mental health monitoring.

The rumors, claimed to be sourced from some public security departments, are misleading, would undermine public confidence in the ongoing investigation, and may represent a violation of the law, Wu Shijie, an official from Civil Aviation Administration of China said on Monday. 

The crash remains under investigation, and no conclusion has been drawn on the cause and nature of the tragic accident, he noted. "We will try best to find out the cause of the accident as soon as possible and release relevant information according to the law and procedures," he said. 

Wu said the crash has had an impact on the welfare of frontline civil aviation workers, and some employees have suffered from emotional strain, particularly younger workers.

The CAAC attaches great importance to mental well-being of aviation workers, and requested that airlines take measures to support pilots, flight attendants and safety officers in managing their psychological pressure.

So far, this work has achieved positive results, and the industry-wide aircrew team remains stable and fully capable of ensuring aviation flight safety, said the official. 

The CAAC said the airline safety management is focused on the mental state and health of all aircrew, including pilots, and it is a key function of the regulation. 

The aviation industry recently held a two-week long safety review, stating that it had addressed a number of safety hazards, after the fatal crash of flight MU5735 on March 21, killing all 132 persons onboard.

Concrete measures should be taken to strengthen the investigation of hidden dangers concerning aircraft maintenance, flight weather conditions, personnel qualifications and technical ability, the CAAC said.

Global Times