China Eastern Airlines Flight 5398

China Eastern Airlines Flight 5398 was a flight route from Huangtian International Airport (now Bao'an International Airport) in Shenzhen to Fuzhou Yixu Airport in Fujian. On 26 October 1993, the McDonnell Douglas MD-82 flying this route crashed on approach to Fuzhou Yixu Airport. The aircraft overran the runway while landing in heavy rain and high winds. Two of the 80 passengers and crew on board were killed.

Event summary

On October 26, 1993, 11:50am, Flight MU5398 took off from Shenzhen airport and scheduled to land 12:50pm at Fuzhou airport. At 12:32pm, the crew contacted tower in Fuzhou airport preparing for landing. It was raining at the time, and the visibility was 4 km. The crew began the approach despite the poor visibility, resulting in a severe deviation to the right of the runway. The crew did not abort the landing and initiate a go-around, but tried to correct the course while continuing to descend. 1 km from the runway, and only 20 m above the ground, the crew decided to go around. The aircraft kept losing altitude, and its tail struck the runway before the aircraft overran and stopped at a pond. The fuselage broke into 3 pieces. Two people were killed and ten more injured.

Later investigation revealed that the crew of Flight MU5398 violated the approaching protocol at Fuzhou airport, and did not cooperate well with the air traffic controller. The cause of the accident was ruled to be pilot error.