The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board released flight‑data recorder details that point to a purposeful maneuver inside the cockpit of China Eastern Flight 5735. The Boeing 737‑800, carrying 132 occupants, descended from 29,000 feet in a near‑vertical plunge that smashed into a hillside in Teng County. Investigators say the aircraft’s fuel‑cutoff levers were pulled, shutting both engines.

Data shows the control yokes were turned in opposite directions, indicating a struggle between the captain and first officer as the plane entered a 360‑degree roll and a 40‑degree dive—movements more akin to an aerobatic display than a routine descent. Former NTSB investigator Jeff Guzzetti called the aggressive pitch and roll “an intentional act,” while aviation consultant John Cox noted the evidence, though not conclusive, supports cockpit conflict.

China’s aviation authorities have not commented, and the cockpit‑voice recorder remains unreleased. The findings arrive amid tight Chinese information controls, raising questions for airlines about pilot monitoring and crew‑resource management. Investors will watch how regulators and manufacturers respond to potential safety protocol revisions.