Investigation launched into fatal seaplane crash

Joy General Aviation, the country's largest seaplane operator, has had all its flying activities suspended following a crash in Shanghai that left five people dead.

The CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China) East China Regional Administration has set up a task force to investigate the crash, which took place on Wednesday at around noon, when the nine-seat seaplane operated by Joy General Aviation crashed into a bridge along the Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway 10 minutes after takeoff from Shanghai's Jinshan district.

All of the aviation company's flying activities have been suspended and the five survivors are stable and receiving treatment in hospital, the eastday.com reported.

The 30 million yuan ($4.5 million) seaplane was manufactured by US-based Textron Aviation. Joy General Aviation is a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corp of China.