Investigation Summary
The investigation highlighted significant safety culture deficiencies within Henan Airlines and its parent company, Shenzhen Airlines. Yichun Lindu Airport, located in a valley, was known for rapid formation of dense radiation fog, leading other carriers like China Southern to avoid night operations there. On the night of the accident, visibility was 8.0km at 21:00 but dropped to 2.8km by 21:08, which was below the 3,600m required for the VOR/DME approach. The crew ignored multiple safety protocols: they descended below the 440m decision height without visual reference, failed to execute a missed approach despite radio altimeter warnings, and exhibited poor Cockpit Resource Management (CRM). The captain, who survived, was later held criminally liable, a rare outcome in aviation safety investigations.
Final Conclusions
The primary cause was the flight crew's decision to continue the approach below the minimum descent altitude without visual contact with the runway in weather conditions below safety minimums. Contributing factors included the crew's failure to initiate a missed approach upon hearing low-altitude warnings, inadequate CRM, and systemic safety management failures at Henan Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines. The investigation also noted that the captain was making his first flight into this challenging airport.
Video Analysis
When descending below the minimums proves deadly — An analysis of the Henan Airlines Flight 8387 crash, the first fatal accident involving the Embraer E190, caused by a crew descending below minimums in dense fog.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
VOR/DME Approach
A non-precision approach used by the crew; it required higher visibility minimums than an ILS, which was not yet installed at the airport.
Radio Altimeter
The system provided automated height callouts (50, 40, 30, 20, 10) immediately before impact, which the crew ignored.
Autopilot
Disengaged by the captain at 21:36 to fly the final approach manually through the fog.
Interesting Facts
- 01The accident was the first hull loss and fatal crash involving the Embraer E190.
- 02Visibility at the time of the crash was 2,800m, while the airport minimum for the approach was 3,600m.
- 03The captain was sentenced to three years in prison in 2014 for his role in the accident.
- 04The aircraft was only two years old, having been delivered in December 2008.
- 05Following the crash, the airline was forced to revert its name from Henan Airlines back to Kunpeng Airlines by provincial authorities.
- 06The final death toll of 44 was initially reported as 42 because one victim's body was severely fragmented, and two survivors later succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Airline Management Restructuring
The general manager of Henan Airlines was fired immediately following the accident, and the parent company Shenzhen Airlines faced intense scrutiny over its safety oversight.
National Safety Inspections
Chinese aviation authorities ordered a nationwide safety audit of all airlines, specifically targeting pilot qualifications and experience claims.
Airport Infrastructure Upgrade
Plans to install an Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Yichun Lindu Airport were accelerated to improve safety during low-visibility operations.
Victim Compensation
Henan Airlines paid 960,000 yuan (approximately $140,000 USD) to the relatives of each victim, as required under PRC civil aviation law.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Criminalization of Pilot Error
Reference ↗The sentencing of Captain Qi Quanjun to three years in prison was controversial within the international aviation community, as safety experts argue that criminalizing accidents can hinder the reporting of safety issues.
Forced Name Change
Reference ↗The Henan provincial government rescinded the airline's right to use the name 'Henan Airlines' to protect the province's image, a move criticized by media as an overreach of administrative power.