Government and Policy

China plane crash probe takes time, says official

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-28 11:07

YICHUN, Heilongjiang - Investigation into Tuesday's deadly jet crash in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province will take a pretty long period, an official with the aviation industry watchdog said Saturday.

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"The probe involves every aspect of the jet -- its manufacturer, operator, pilot, crew, maintenance record as well as the air traffic management and airport authorities," said Li Jian, vice director of the General Administration of Civil Aviation (CAAC).

Li said the CAAC had to be scrupulous in publishing any results of the investigation. "They (such results) will have to withstand the test of time and history. We therefore need more time for that."

Li arrived in Yichun, a remote, forest-surrounded city, shortly after a Brazilian-made ERJ-190 jet carrying 96 people crashed upon landing near the runway Tuesday night. Forty-two people died and 54 survived with injuries.