China’s CE-25A electric aircraft completed its first crewed flight on Nov. 14, flying for 16 minutes and 38 seconds over a distance of about 60 kilometres before landing in Binzhou, Shandong province. Two pilots and a test engineer were on board, according to CCTV, which reported the flight based on information from Xinhua.
COMAC said the aircraft operated normally. The flight marks a new stage in testing for the 19-seat plane, which is designed for short commercial routes between cities. It uses electric propulsion and has a maximum takeoff weight of 10 tonnes.
The CE-25A has a stated cruising speed of up to 300 kilometres per hour and a maximum flight altitude of 2,400 metres. A report by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, citing COMAC, gave the flight distance as 60.4 kilometres.
Commercial approval remains outstanding
The aircraft had previously completed 19 unmanned test flights. Its first autonomous flight took place on Feb. 2, 2026, according to CCTV and Xinhua.
COMAC developed the aircraft with battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and other partners. The company has applied for type certification from China’s Civil Aviation Administration, which accepted the application, but the CE-25A has not received approval to enter commercial service.
Nicole French