Henan Airlines suspends flying, fires GM after crash

Henan Airlines yesterday suspended all flights in response to Tuesday's crash of an Embraer 190 that killed 42 and injured 54 at Yichun airport, which was closed yesterday (ATW Daily News, Aug. 25). The death toll was revised down from 43. CAAC Minister Li Jiayang said Henen's remaining four E-190s would remain grounded pending safety inspections. This was China's first fatal airline accident in less than six years. The last involved a China Eastern Airlines Bombardier CRJ200 that crashed in November 2004.

Meanwhile, the official state news agency Xinhua announced that Henan GM Li Qiang has been relieved of his duties and replaced by Cao Bo on an acting basis. Xinhua said Vice Prime Minister Zhang Dejiang arrived Wednesday at the crash site to help set up an investigation team, which will examine the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, both of which have been recovered, in an effort to determine the cause of the crash. Embraer technicians flew to the site Tuesday to assist in the investigation.

According to Flight Safety Foundation's Aviation Safety Network, the crash marks the first hull loss for an E-190. It said the accident aircraft first flew in 2008.

Henan changed its name earlier this year from Kunpeng Airlines, which was a joint venture between Shenzhen Airlines and Mesa Air Group launched in 2007. But Phoenix-based Mesa sold its holding last year and the Henan provincial government moved in to take a stake, leading to the name change (ATW Daily News, Nov. 11, 2009).