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Air China crew grounded after co-pilot's vaping sparked mid-air emergency Air China pilots fired after vaping sparks mid-air emergency
(about 4 hours later)
A Chinese cockpit crew involved in a mid-air emergency sparked by smoke from a co-pilot’s vape have had their flying licences revoked. Two Chinese pilots have been fired after one of them vaped during a passenger flight, causing an emergency descent due to a sudden loss of cabin pressure.
Authorities have also cut the number of 737 flights operated by the flag-carrier Air China, state media reported on Wednesday. China’s civil aviation body said it had revoked the licences of two Air China pilots, according to the state-run China Central Television.
An Air China 737 made a rapid emergency descent of more than 6,500 metres (21,000ft) last week after the co-pilot mistakenly turned off air-conditioning systems in an attempt to conceal his e-cigarette smoke. The pilots were flying a Boeing 737 from Hong Kong to the northern Chinese city of Dalian on 10 July when the co-pilot, smoking an e-cigarette, mistakenly turned off the plane’s air conditioning unit. He had been trying to turn off a fan so that smoke would not spread to the main cabin.
The incident, which resulted in the deployment of passenger oxygen masks, occurred on a flight from Hong Kong to the north-eastern city of Dalian. Oxygen levels in the main cabin dropped suddenly, causing oxygen masks to deploy, and triggering an emergency descent. According to passengers, the plane dropped to 10,000ft (3,050 metres), before climbing again and landing in Dalian.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has cut the number of the carrier’s 737 flights by 10% and ordered it to undertake a three-month safety overhaul, China Central Television (CCTV) said. The aviation watchdog also fined Air China 50,000 yuan ($7,500). None of the 153 passengers or nine crew was injured.
Boeing 737s accounted for more than 40% of Air China’s fleet as of the end of last year, according to company reports. Air China shares slipped more than 2% in Shanghai on Wednesday morning. Aviation authorities investigated the incident and concluded last week, in a preliminary investigation, that the co-pilot had been vaping.
The CAAC said the drama was triggered when the co-pilot, trying to prevent his vape smoke from spreading into the main cabin, accidentally switched off the air-conditioning. That led to a decrease in cabin oxygen levels, which in turn set off an emergency warning system indicating the jet may have flown too high and instructing the pilots to quickly descend. Aviation authorities fined Air China 50,000 yuan (£6,400) and cut the number of its Boeing 737 flights by 10%. The airline is also required to do a three-month safety review. CCTV said other staff onboard the plane have had their licences suspended.
Smoking is not allowed onboard Chinese commercial passenger flights. There were no injuries to the 153 passengers and nine crew, the CAAC has said. Air China’s shares fell as much as 1.4% in Hong Kong in response to the news, before recovering slightly by the end of the day.
Chinese airlines have a good safety record, and smoking regular or e-cigarettes is banned. However, passengers accuse pilots of secretly smoking. Few cases have been proven.
Witnesses on the plane told local media the crew and most of the passengers remained calm as the plane descended rapidly.
Passengers said they wore the oxygen masks for about 20 minutes before the plane returned to a normal altitude and the flight attendants resumed cabin service. According to local reports, passengers said they applauded when the plane landed in Dalian.
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