Two drunk aviation bosses have been sacked for forcing their way onto a plane and enjoying first-class privileges.
Ren Yu, former chairman of the state-owned China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS), and Zhao Baohui, the general manager, were officially removed from their posts for “serious violations of discipline and law”.
Their alleged drunken behaviour caused a 68-minute flight delay at Frankfurt Airport on 21 March 2024.
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The scandal, which only came to light last month, involved a group of high-ranking officials who allegedly used their status to intimidate airline crew members and force unauthorised cabin upgrades.
After drinking in the Air China business-class lounge while travelling back to China, Zhao reportedly became so intoxicated that staff refused to let him board.
Ren reportedly intervened to ensure the entire group boarded the Air China flight despite the procedural issue.
During the flight, Ren and Zhao upgraded themselves to first-class seats, an act described by investigators as a blatant “abuse of power”.
According to a notice from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the group attempted to cover up the incident for nearly two years.
When questioned by investigators in March 2026, the officials provided “false accounts” to regulators, further compounding their troubles.
A total of 13 officials have faced sanctions in connection with the state-funded trip, as reported by Need To Know.
Ren and Zhao were reportedly sacked from their leadership roles and removed from the Communist Party of China.
The organisation’s Discipline Inspection Chief, surnamed Tang, was removed from his post for failing to report the misconduct in 2024 and passing on false information to the higher authorities.
Several airline staff members were disciplined for granting unauthorised upgrades and treating the officials as ‘VIPs’ in violation of safety and commercial protocols.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China stated that officials who “conceal misconduct or ignore directives on work style” will face strict and immediate accountability.
This high-profile ousting comes amid a broader crackdown on corruption within China’s aviation sector, which has recently been plagued by operational challenges that have stranded thousands of travellers across major hubs like Beijing and Shanghai.
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