Flight MU2113 links Beijing with Xian, capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi province, and can carry around 160 people.

The C919 completed its first commercial flight in May 2023 and has since flown 3,133 flights benefiting nearly 420,000 passengers, according to official data.

China Eastern Airlines added the aircraft to its fleet after completing a 100-hour flight program to verify its safety.

China signed a contract to acquire five aircraft and plans to use them on routes linking Shanghai with cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xiamen, Wuhan and Qingdao.

Other interested customers include Air China, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines and U.S.-based GE Capital Aviation Services.

China Aviation Industry Corporation began developing the C919 in 2015, two years later conducted its maiden flight and in July 2022 completed all tests successfully, following project delays due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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