China Eastern Airlines' world's first C919 performs "first flight"

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Image of China Eastern's C919 : Xu Bingnan

"Dongfang 919, I am very happy to welcome the first C919 flight of China Eastern. I wish the domestic large aircraft to fly better and better." At noon on 9 December 2022, before the C919 transfer flight MU919 of China Eastern Airlines landed at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, the Hongqiao Airport tower controller called the flight crew to say hello.

"Received, Tower, C919 is great, and China Eastern Airlines will definitely fly it with all its strength." The crew of China Eastern Airlines MU919 replied.

At 12.02 pm on 9 December, the world's first C919 aircraft received by China Eastern carried out the adjustment flight MU919 and arrived at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport smoothly. The plane passed through the "Water Gate", which symbolizes the highest civil aviation etiquette, and officially joined the "big family" of China Eastern Airlines' fleet.

Flight MU919 took off from Pudong at 11.39 am on the same day. The chief flight attendant made a welcome speech through the cabin broadcast: "China Eastern Airlines ushered in the world's first C919 large civil aviation airliner. It is a great honor to experience and witness this with you. It is an exciting moment. We are about to take our own large aircraft and soar into the blue sky with great ambitions... This short voyage will be an important milestone for the commercial operation of our large aircraft!"