RAWALPINDI: The chairman of China Eastern Airlines Co Ltd has thanked Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) CEO Arshad Malik for his condolences extended to the families of the victims of a plane crash in China earlier this week.

A China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737-800 with 132 people on board crashed in mountains in southern China on Monday after a sudden plunge from cruising altitude at about the time when it would normally start to descend ahead of its landing.

Flight MU5735 was en route from the southwestern city of Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, to Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong, bordering Hong Kong, when it crashed.

After the incident, PIA CEO Arshad Malik wrote a letter to the Chinese airline chairman to express his sympathies for the victims.

In response to the letter, the chairman of China Eastern Airlines said: “All of us are in deepest shock and sadness for what has happened. China Eastern Airlines has activated the first-level emergency mechanism, sent a working group to the scene, and opened a special line for emergency assistance for family members of those onboard the flight.”

He said that they would properly handle the aftermath, provide comfort and services for the families of the victims, release information in a timely and accurate manner, seriously identify the cause of the accident with parties concerned and ensure the safety of air travel.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2022