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China Eastern Airlines flight MU 5406 was involved in an unusual ground incident after landing at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) today. The aircraft struck a jet bridge while taxiing.
The flight from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) landed normally at approximately 11:34 AM local time. However, while taxiing at low speed toward Gate 250, the aircraft collided with the jet bridge. The impact caused visible damage to the left wing, engine cowling, and door.
Videos circulating online show the aircraft making initial contact with the jet bridge then reversing using thrust before striking the structure a second time prior to coming to a complete stop. Despite the dramatic nature of the incident, all 300-plus passengers and crew onboard were able to deplane safely after a short delay. No injuries were reported. Passengers were reportedly compensated with 300 RMB (around $43.94 USD) each following the disruption.
Aviation experts reviewing available data have suggested that a possible brake system issue may have contributed to the incident, though this has not yet been confirmed. The aircraft’s movement and the need to use reverse thrust during taxiing have raised questions about braking effectiveness and pilot response procedures.
The aircraft remains grounded as authorities conduct an official investigation into the cause of the collision. The inquiry is expected to examine mechanical systems, ground operations, and crew actions to determine what led to the incident.
Anthony’s Take: While the aircraft sustained damage, the safe evacuation of all passengers is what matters. The focus now shifts to identifying the root cause to prevent similar incidents in the future.
(Featured Image Credit: @aviationbrk via X.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
