NTSB ADVISORY
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
November 28, 2009
NTSB ASSISTS GOVERNMENT OF CHINA IN AVIATION ACCIDENT
The National Transportation Safety Board will dispatch a
team of investigators to assist the government of China in
its investigation of today’s crash of a Boeing/McDonnell
Douglas MD-11F, operated by Avient Air (registration Z-BAV).
Today, at approximately 8:14 a.m. local time, the aircraft,
flight #SMJ324, crashed on takeoff at Pudong Airport in
Shanghai, China, under unknown circumstances. This cargo
flight originated in Shanghai and its destination was
Harare, Zimbabwe.
Of the 7 crew members onboard, 3 are reported to have
suffered fatal injuries and 4 have suffered serious
injuries.
NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman has designated senior
investigator Bill English as the U.S. Accredited
Representative. His team will include an NTSB structures
specialist, as well as technical advisors from the Federal
Aviation Administration, Boeing, and Pratt & Whitney.
The investigation is being conducted by China’s General
Administration of Civil Aviation which will release all
information on the progress of the investigation.