Chinese passenger jet carrying 133 people crashes, casualties unknown

Beijing: A China Eastern passenger jet carrying 133 people has crashed in southwest China with an unknown number of casualties, state broadcaster CCTV reported Monday.

Chinese state media reports the Boeing 737, was flying a domestic route from the city of Kunming to Guangzhou when it crashed on a hill in Guangxi province.

The Boeing 737 plane crashed in the rural countryside near Wuzhou city, Guangxi region and "caused a mountain fire", CCTV said, adding that rescue teams were dispatched to the scene.

Local media reported that China Eastern flight MU5735 had not arrived at its scheduled destination in Guangzhou after it took off from the city of Kunming shortly after 1:00 pm (0500 GMT) Monday, citing airport staff.  

There was no immediate response from China Eastern when contacted by AFP.

(More details are awaited)

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