More aviation officials detained in widening corruption investigation

Three more senior aviation officials have been detained in a widening investigation of corruption in the country's air-transport sector following the suicide of a top official last week.

A section head from the civil aviation administration's air-traffic management bureau and two general managers from China Southern Airlines' scheduling department were taken away by police at the weekend, China Business News reported yesterday.

State media said the section head had the power to approve mainland airlines' routes and schedules, the focus of the anti-graft watchdog's latest campaign against rampant corruption in the sector.

At least seven China Southern Airlines officials, including its chief engineer, were detained earlier this month and are being investigated.

The report said those detained were allegedly linked to Huang Dengke, the aviation administration's north China head, who was put under investigation in November for allegedly selling off premium air routes and time slots.

Meanwhile, footage from a surveillance camera has revealed how Liu Yajun , the aviation administration's chief in central and southern China, committed suicide last week.