ive ▁into ▁the ▁ground ▁from ▁an ▁alt itude ▁of ▁ ▁and ▁expl ode . ▁All ▁ 6 1 ▁people ▁on ▁board ▁were ▁killed . ▁Several ▁people ▁on ▁the ▁ground ▁were ▁injured ▁from ▁de br is . ▁ ▁C ause ▁ ▁In correct ▁self - lock ing ▁lock n uts ▁had ▁been ▁installed ▁in ▁the ▁elev ator ▁operating ▁system , ▁which ▁maintenance ▁cre ws ▁failed ▁to ▁notice . ▁These ▁sp un ▁off ▁during ▁the ▁flight , ▁leaving ▁the ▁elev ator ▁un cont roll able . ▁This ▁disabled ▁the ▁aircraft ▁pitch ▁channel , ▁causing ▁the ▁crash . ▁ ▁After math ▁ ▁This ▁and ▁the ▁China ▁North west ▁Airlines ▁Fl ight ▁ 2 3 0 3 ▁dis aster ▁contributed ▁to ▁the ▁decision ▁to ▁remove ▁all ▁T up ole v ▁Tu - 1 5 4 ▁aircraft ▁in ▁China ▁from ▁service ▁on ▁October ▁ 3 0 , ▁ 2 0 0 2 . ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁Aer of lot ▁Fl ight ▁ 5 9 3 ▁Aer oper ú ▁Fl ight ▁ 6 0 3 , ▁another ▁av iation ▁dis aster ▁caused ▁by ▁poor ▁maintenance . ▁Al aska ▁Airlines ▁Fl ight ▁ 2 6 1 , ▁another ▁av iation ▁dis aster ▁caused ▁by ▁poor ▁maintenance . ▁Bir gen air ▁Fl ight ▁ 3 0 1 , ▁another ▁av iation ▁dis aster ▁caused ▁by ▁poor ▁maintenance . ▁China ▁North west ▁Airlines ▁Fl ight ▁ 2 3 0 3 , ▁another ▁av iation ▁dis aster ▁involving ▁a ▁T up ole v - 1 5 4 ▁and ▁caused ▁by ▁poor ▁maintenance .