Two Chinese officials sacked after flight arson bid

A man was subdued by crew and passengers after trying to light a fire on the flight from Taizhou, as it was landing in the airport in southern Guangdong province early on Sunday morning

Two officials have been sacked and an airport taken out of operation in China’s Zhejiang province after an arson attempt injured two passengers on a flight, authorities said on Wednesday.

The director and vice-director of the civil aviation administration of Taizhou City have been removed from their posts over the incident on Shenzhen Airlines flight ZH 9648, authorities told Xinhua.

A man was subdued by crew and fellow passengers after trying to light a fire on the flight from Taizhou, as it was landing in the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in southern Guangdong province early on Sunday morning, the airport said.

Man had knife

The China Central Television quoted a passenger as saying a man with a knife had lit a curtain and newspapers in the first-class cabin. The fire filled the cabin with heavy smoke. Other reports said gasoline was used.

The incident has prompted questions how the arsonist managed to bring a knife, lighter and gasoline onto the plane.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China ordered the Taizhou airport to suspend operations from Wednesday morning, saying the airport was found to have “severe safety risks.”