Plane Crashes in Northeast China, Killing 42

BEIJING, Aug. 25, 2010 -- Forty-two people were killed and 54 injured in a plane crash in northeastern China Tuesday night.

A passenger plane carrying 96 people tried to land in Yichun city's Lindu airport amid heavy fog, overshot the runway, broke into two pieces and caught fire.

The plane's black box was found Wednesday morning, said Xinhua News Agency, but the cause of the crash is still being investigated. Officials say it may be months, or even a year, before a verdict is delivered.

Henan Airlines' Embraer E-190 jet took off from Heilongjiang province's capital city, Harbin, shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday, crashing in Yichun roughly 40 minutes after it took off. Ninety-one passengers — including five children — and five crew members were onboard, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

Xinhua officials corrected their previous body count from 43 to 42, explaining that one body had been torn apart in the crash and miscounted as two.

Qi Quanjun, the pilot, survived the crash and is currently recovering in Yichun First Hospital. Qi understood the questions but was unable to talk due to severe face injuries, doctors said.

"Qi Quanjun is badly injured and under intensive care," Mr. Yu, a hospital administrator, told ABC News. "But his condition is getting better and is not life-threatening."

Yu said the injured passengers are being treated in four hospitals throughout the city. There are currently 30 crash victims hospitalized at Yichun First.

"Most of them suffer fracture and internal injuries," Yu said. "But they're in good psychological condition."

One crash survivor, a middle-aged man lying in a hospital bed, told China Central Television station (CCTV) that turbulence during the plane's descent was very bad. Several heavy jerks caused luggage to fall from the overhead bins.