China Eastern plane hits boarding bridge at Shanghai airport, no injuries reported

SHANGHAI — China Eastern Airlines apologized to passengers after one of its aircraft struck a boarding bridge while taxiing at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on Saturday.The airline said the flight from Chengdu experienced a “mechanical malfunction” as it was moving slowly toward the gate, leading to a minor collision with the bridge.All passengers on board were safe, and the crew handled the situation according to established procedures, the airline said.Passengers disembarked in an orderly manner, with no injuries reported. The cause of the incident is under investigation.According to flight tracking data, the aircraft was an Airbus A350-900 that had been in service for just over four years.The plane departed Chengdu at 9:18 a.m. and arrived in Shanghai at 11:33 a.m.Passengers reported hearing the impact, with some describing it as similar to mild turbulence. After a delay of more than 30 minutes, passengers exited from the undamaged side of the aircraft.Local media reported that passengers were offered compensation of 300 yuan (about $44).