China’s 10-Tonne Electric Aircraft Completes First Crewed Test Flight

Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the aircraft completed the flight in Binzhou, Shandong Province, with two pilots and a flight test engineer on board.

COMAC conducted the prototype’s first crewed flight on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from a test site in eastern China. The company said the aircraft operated normally during the flight, with all performance indicators meeting expectations.

According to China Daily and CGTN, the test flight lasted 57 minutes and 46 seconds, including 16 minutes and 38 seconds in the air. The aircraft covered a distance of 60.4 kilometres during the test.

The crew consisted of two pilots and one flight test engineer, making Saturday’s flight the first time personnel had flown aboard the aircraft.

COMAC had previously completed the CE-25A’s first uncrewed flight on February 2, 2026, followed by validation of 19 autonomous uncrewed flights. Saturday’s sortie marked the first crewed operation of the aircraft.

Official images released after the flight showed a red-and-black prototype carrying registration number B-0EFH and COMAC markings.

The CE-25A is COMAC’s first electric commercial aircraft. According to CGTN, its designation represents China and COMAC through the letter “C”, electric through “E”, China’s 25 airworthiness standards through “25”, and the first aircraft in the series through “A”.

Designed for Intercity Routes

The CE-25A has primarily been designed for commercial flights between cities and can accommodate up to 19 passengers.

The aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 10 tonnes, a cruising speed of 300 kilometres per hour, a cruising altitude of 2,400 metres and a range of 400 kilometres.

Its power comes from an electric ducted-fan propulsion system mounted on the wings. The fan arrangement is visible in official take-off photographs and in-flight images released following the test.

The aircraft forms part of China’s broader push into regional and low-altitude aviation, which has also produced cargo aircraft such as the YH-1000S hybrid uncrewed cargo plane, which completed its maiden flight earlier this year.

Partners and Certification Process

COMAC developed the CE-25A in collaboration with several partners, including Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), Shanghai Jiao Tong University and other institutions.

CATL is China’s leading battery manufacturer and a major player in the development of battery technologies for electric transportation.

China’s Civil Aviation Administration has accepted COMAC’s application for a type certificate for the CE-25A.

A type certificate is required before an aircraft can enter commercial service, and acceptance of the application allows the formal certification review process to begin.

The CE-25A’s first crewed flight adds China’s electric aircraft programme to a growing list of civilian aviation projects undergoing flight testing, including NASA’s quiet supersonic X-59 aircraft.