LONDON – Developing news from the last hour confirms that a China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737-800 has crashed in Guangxi Province, China.

MU5735 was on a routine flight from Kunming to Guangzhou when the aircraft dropped between 24,000-31,000 feet per minute into the mountains.

Data from RadarBox.com shows that the flight landed in Guangzhou but Chinese media outlet CGTN has confirmed the downing of the aircraft.

It is understood that 132 people onboard, translating to 123 passengers and nine crew members.

The Civil Administration of China has released a statement on the downing of the aircraft:

“Emergency mechanism has been activated, and a working group has been dispatched to the scene”.

B-1791 is a 6.8-year-old Boeing 737-89P(WL) that was delivered to China Eastern back in June 2015. The aircraft was cruising at 29,100 feet before making a rapid descent into the mountain.

It is also understood that everyone on board has died.

This is a developing story.

UPDATE #1:

Footage has emerged via CCTV of the aircraft in a complete nose-down pitch moments before impact.

UPDATE #2:

It is key to note that MU5735 was not operated by the 737 MAX variant of the family. Boeing has not released a statement as of yet on the downing of the aircraft.

UPDATE #3:

The footage is emerging of the crash site in the mountains of the Guangxi Province, although such footage that we see above has not been confirmed by authorities at this stage.

We are however beginning to see photos of some aircraft parts upon the arrival of rescue teams who are now on the scene.

UPDATE #3:

Initium Media is reporting that this is the first time in nearly 12 years that an air accident has occurred in China.

Initium also reported that the crash of the aircraft has caused a wildfire in Teng Country, Wuzhou.

UPDATE #4:

The Chinese President Xi Jinping has activated the emergency mechanism and has called for the following items in the wake of the accident:

“The State Council has appointed leading comrades to coordinate and deal with the accident, find out the cause of the accident as soon as possible, draw inferences from one case to another, strengthen the investigation of potential safety hazards in the field of civil aviation, pay close attention to the implementation of responsibilities, ensure the absolute safety of aviation operations, and ensure the absolute safety of people’s lives.”

UPDATE #5:

More footage of the aircraft moments before impact has been revealed from a driver’s dash-cam which is confirming the theory that the aircraft was in a complete nose-down pitch.

UPDATE #6:

The U.S Federal Aviation Administration has commented on the crash saying:

“FAA is aware of reports that a China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737-800 plane crashed this morning in China. The agency is ready to assist in investigation efforts if asked.”

UPDATE #7:

China Eastern has released a statement on the crash.

UPDATE #8:

Boeing has released a statement on the incident.