What happened
During a scheduled flight from Xiamen to Guangzhou, a male passenger seized control of the cockpit after the co-pilot exited the flight deck. The individual intended to divert the flight to Taiwan. As the Boeing 737 approached Guangzhou-Baiyun Airport for its final landing phase, the hijacker engaged in a physical struggle with the captain. This altercation caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft.
Upon landing, the aircraft exited the runway to the right at high velocity. The sequence of impacts began when the aircraft rolled through the apron area and struck the cockpit of a parked China Southwest Airlines Boeing 707, registration B-2402. The momentum continued as the aircraft rolled over a truck and ultimately collided with a parked China Southern Airlines Boeing 757, registration B-2812.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a physical struggle between the hijacker and the captain during the landing phase.
- The collision resulted in the total destruction of all three involved aircraft.
- The incident caused 130 fatalities, including 82 individuals on the initial Boeing 737, one pilot from the Boeing 707, 46 passengers from the Boeing 757, and one ground worker.