A China Eastern Airlines flight suffered a technical glitch after landing on a domestic flight, causing part of the aircraft to hit the jet bridge while taxiing towards the gate. In a statement posted on its official account on China’s social media platform ‘Sina Weibo’, the airline said the incident occurred on a flight from Chengdu in southwest China’s Sichuan province to Shanghai.
The aircraft encountered a technical problem while taxiing slowly after landing. “Today, one of the company’s flights from Chengdu to Shanghai experienced a technical malfunction after landing. The aircraft was taxiing slowly towards the gate at the time. The crew immediately handled the situation in accordance with established procedures, and part of the aircraft collided with the jet bridge,” the statement said.
The airline confirmed that all passengers on board the aircraft were safe and were evacuated in an orderly manner. There is no news of anyone being injured so far. Officials and the airline are investigating the exact cause of this technical glitch. The statement further said, “All passengers on board the aircraft are safe and have been evacuated in an orderly manner. The exact cause of the incident is being investigated. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to passengers due to this incident.”
According to the Chinese mouthpiece, several social media users claimed that the wing of the China Eastern Airlines flight that had landed at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport had hit the jet bridge, reportedly causing partial damage to the structure. Citing statements from passengers, the China mouthpiece reported that a passenger surnamed ‘Liu’ said the incident occurred as the plane was taxiing towards its parking space. According to Liu, it appeared that the nose of the plane had gone slightly past the designated stopping point near the jet bridge.
Passengers remained sitting inside the plane for more than half an hour
Liu further said that passengers inside the cabin heard a crashing sound, and soon after, the plane’s engine thrust was reversed. Video footage from the cabin display screen recorded by a passenger reportedly indicated that the left side of the plane had collided with the jet bridge, the Chinese mouthpiece reported. Liu further said that after the incident, passengers remained seated inside the plane for more than half an hour, after which they were allowed to exit from the other side of the plane. Liu also claimed that the airline compensated each passenger 300 yuan (about US$43.94).