Liu Shaoyong, the former chairman of China Eastern Airlines, has been charged with bribery, according to state media reports. This development comes nearly a year after authorities began investigating him for corruption.
The Supreme People’s Procuratorate announced the decision to arrest Liu on suspicion of bribery. His tenure as chairman lasted from 2016 until his resignation in 2022.
Liu's indictment follows the deadly crash of China Eastern flight MU5375 on March 21, 2022, which resulted in the deaths of 132 passengers and crew members. Investigations revealed that the plane had inexplicably descended from an altitude of 29,000 feet.
In January, Liu was expelled from the Communist Party for serious violations of party discipline and laws. The airline, primarily owned by the Chinese government, is one of the largest in the country.
Ongoing Investigations into the Crash
Recent findings from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicated that both engines of the aircraft were shut down prior to the crash, and there were signs of a struggle in the cockpit.
However, the Xinhua report regarding Liu's charges did not reference the crash or the NTSB's latest findings.