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China’s first domestically produced passenger jet, C919 took off on its maiden commercial flight on Sunday, a milestone event in the nation’s decade long-effort to compete with the Western rivals.
China Eastern Airlines flight MU9191 took to the skies above Shanghai Hongqiao Airport just after 10.30 am (0230 GMT), as seen on footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed.
The plane is said to be carrying over 130 passengers on China Eastern Airlines flight MU9191 to Beijing’s Capital International Airport, CCTV said.
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The footage shows dozens of spectators gathering at the sun-drenched Shanghai airport to admire the flight of sleek white jet. They then filed into the narrow-body plane which taxied to the runway before taking off. It has also been revealed that the passengers on board will receive a themed meal in order to commemorate the flight.
The Asian country has invested heavily into its home grown jet as it looks forward to becoming self-sufficient in key technologies.
It is expected by Beijing that their aircraft C919 will challenge the popular aircrafts Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320.
The carrier has been manufactured domestically by the state-owned Commercial Aviation Corp of China (COMAC), but many of its parts are outsourced from overseas.
