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Chinese officials recently released the details of an investigation into the June 3 Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft crash in Anhui Province, which killed all 40 people on board, according to the Asia Times. The apparent causes were icy wings, an overloaded aircraft, and mismanagement by the military.
At about 1:30pm on June 3, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft took off from Feidong Air Force airport with 40 passengers and some equipment. At the time of the crash the aircraft had been in the air for over two hours and had passed several icy areas. Many passengers were not wearing seat belts and when the aircraft lost balance, the passengers fell, causing the aircraft to tilt, spin, and finally lose control at 8,000 meters.
The crash shocked high ranking officials and Hu Jintao, leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), personally requested the investigation. Three months later, the Chinese reported for the very first time that the crash was caused by ice build up on the wings after flying through several icy regions.
The Central Military Commission reported the penalties to related personnel. Major General Jiang Jianzeng, deputy commander of the Nanjing Military Area Command, was given a serious demerit. Wang Wei, political commissar of the airforce of the Nanjing Military Area Command, and Yue Liu'an, deputy director of the PLA Airforce Armament Department, were both given standard demerits. Guo Chunguang, deputy chief of staff of the airforce of the Nanjing Military Area Command, was demoted. Zhang Guangjian, an officer with the Nanjing command's airforce, was dismissed. Another six officers were given demerits or warnings.
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