Flight MU5735: China Eastern plane carrying over 130 people crashes in Guangxi

A China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737 plane carrying 133 people on board has crashed in Guangxi province, according to reports.

Chinese state media is reporting that the flight crashed in a mountainous region.

The number of casualties is not yet known with state media reporting that rescue teams have been dispatched to the site.

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Unverified footage on social media showed a densely wooded hillside in flames in Wuzhou province believed to be the downed plane.

This file photo taken on May 29, 2020 shows a China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737-800 aircraft parked at the Tianhe Airport in Wuhan. Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty ImagesThis file photo taken on May 29, 2020 shows a China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737-800 aircraft parked at the Tianhe Airport in Wuhan. Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images
This file photo taken on May 29, 2020 shows a China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737-800 aircraft parked at the Tianhe Airport in Wuhan. Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images
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Flight MU5735 was scheduled to leave Kunming at 13:15 and was en route to Guangzhou with flight tracking sites showing the plane was in the air for just over an hour.

The plane went down near Teng county in Wuzhou province.

According to FlightRadar24 data the flight of the aircraft ended at 14:22 local time, at an altitude of 3,225 ft.

A China Eastern Airlines Airbus A330-243 is seen at gate at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on April 24, 2021. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)A China Eastern Airlines Airbus A330-243 is seen at gate at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on April 24, 2021. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)
A China Eastern Airlines Airbus A330-243 is seen at gate at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on April 24, 2021. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)

According to the site, the plane went down from 29,100 feet (8870m) to 3,225 feet (980m) in just four minutes.

China Eastern’s website, mobile app and some of its social media platforms were turned to black and white in a sign of mourning.

An online report issued by Chinese state media read: “Currently a rescue team has assembled and is approaching

“The situation with casualties remains unclear.”

The crash was confirmed by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, which said there were 123 passengers and nine crew members on board.

According to Aviation Safety Network’s website, this is the first fatal accident involving a 737-800 jet since Jan. 8, 2020.