Boeing 'not invited' to inspect China Southern wreckage as listings near

On the eve of China Southern Airlines' listings in New York and Hong Kong, Boeing says it has not been invited to examine the wreckage of the mainland carrier's aircraft that crash-landed in May with the loss of 35 lives.

While there had been concerns from industry observers, Boeing said it regarded the situation as 'not at all unusual'.

The United States-based manufacturer said: 'Although Boeing representatives have not examined CZ3456, we have been working closely with the investigators to provide assistance as necessary.' The statement said no 'Boeing employee [has] had any direct involvement in the accident investigation'.

The China Southern Boeing 737-300 crashed while attempting to land at Shenzhen airport on May 8. The firm's listing prospectus said there were 'severe weather conditions' at the time of the accident. Although the exact cause is unknown, China Southern has proceeded with the listing, permission for which was granted in 1994.

Boeing said the crash investigation was the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

'Boeing has complete confidence in the CAAC's ability to investigate the accident and awaits its conclusions with interest,' Boeing said.

There has been no indication from the authorities when the report will be released.