A plane that crashed into an icy lake in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region two years ago, killing 55, had frost on its wings, it was announced at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

 

The China Eastern CRJ-200 aircraft crashed shortly after take-off near Baotou, a city in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on November 21, 2004. The plane, carrying 47 passengers and six crew, was heading for Shanghai. Everyone on board, as well as two people on the ground, were killed in the accident. The total economic loss was 180 million yuan (23 million U.S. dollars).

 

Experts said the plane lost speed shortly after take-off and the pilot was unable to control it. According to the report, the wings of the plane, which had stayed overnight at the airport, were caked with frost. No de-frost procedure was carried out before take-off.

 

Experts held China Eastern responsible for the accident. Its Yunnan branch, which operated the CRJ-200 aircraft, had neglected daily safety management measures, it said. Twelve high officials have been punished for the accident.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2006)