All feared dead on China airliner

An airliner with 112 people on board crashed into the sea off the north east coast of China tonight after the captain reported a fire in the cabin.

The state Xinhua News Agency said rescue efforts were under way and six bodies had been recovered. There was said to be little hope of survivors.

More than 30 rescue ships were reported at or on their way to the crash site only 12 miles from jet’s destination airport.

The China Northern Airlines jet crashed into the bay just off Dalian, a port city 280 miles east of Beijing.

Xinhua said the plane went into Dalian Bay at about 9.40pm (2.40pm Irish time) after the captain reported a fire in the cabin.

The plane, identified as China Northern Flight 6136, was an MD-82 airliner and was carrying 103 passengers and nine crew from Beijing to Dalian.

It took off at 8.37pm (1.37pm Irish time), and air traffic controllers lost contact with the flight less than an hour later.

Xinhua said the plane went missing in the sea about 12 miles from Dalian’s airport.

Darkness at sea was hindering rescue efforts, Xinhua said. It said most of those aboard were residents of Dalian.