On 21 November 2004, just two minutes after takeoff, the Bombardier CRJ200ER fell from the sky and crashed into a lake in Nanhai Park, next to the airport, killing all 53 people on board and two more on the ground.

[1] An investigation by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) revealed that the plane had not been deiced by the ground crew while it was parked on the tarmac.

[1][2] Flight 5210 was operated by a Bombardier CRJ200ER, SN 7697, which was powered by two General Electric CF34-3B1 engines, which was delivered in November 2002, two years prior to the crash.

[1] Chinese leaders Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao and Huang Ju, ordered an immediate rescue operation.

A team of rescue experts from the Ministry of Communications' Maritime Bureau also arrived at the crash site on 22 November.

Investigators at the crash of Flight 5120, however, stated that they did not find any evidence of terrorism, according to state-run news agency Xinhua.

[11][12] In 2006, 12 China Eastern Airlines employees were found to be responsible for the accident and received administrative punishment.