The British government has called for an immediate and transparent investigation into a plane crash in Beijing, after Chinese authorities remained tight-lipped about the incident for more than 24 hours. The crash, which occurred on the outskirts of the capital, has left families of British nationals on board desperate for answers.
Foreign Office officials confirmed that requests for information had been made to the Chinese embassy in London, but details of the crash remain scarce. “We are urging the Chinese authorities to share all relevant data as soon as possible,” a spokesperson said. “This is a matter of basic humanity.”
At least two British citizens are believed to have been among the 132 passengers and crew on the flight, according to unofficial reports. The plane, a Boeing 737 operated by China Eastern Airlines, went down in a mountainous region near Guilin. Chinese state media initially reported the crash but then withdrew coverage, prompting speculation about a news blackout.
Relatives of those on board have gathered at airports in Beijing and Shanghai, holding up signs demanding information. One woman, whose husband is British and was on the flight, told the BBC: “They say they are investigating, but no one tells us anything. This is cruel.”
Aviation experts have expressed concern over the lack of transparency. “In an age of satellite tracking and black boxes, there is no excuse for this silence,” said John Moore, a former air accident investigator. “The families have a right to know what happened.”
The crash comes at a delicate time for UK-China relations, already strained by disputes over human rights and trade. The British government has offered technical assistance, including access to UK-based flight data analysis facilities, but has not yet received a response from Beijing.
As the hours tick by, pressure mounts on Chinese officials to release the flight recorder data and communicate with affected families. For now, the silence from Beijing is deafening, and for those waiting for news, every moment feels like a lifetime.
