China's COMAC has completed the first crewed flight of its CE-25A electric aircraft, a major step for a 19-seat plane meant for short intercity trips. The flight took place on Saturday, November 14, in Binzhou in eastern China's Shandong Province, with two pilots and a flight-test engineer on board. The aircraft stayed in the air for 16 minutes and 38 seconds and covered 60.4 kilometers, and state broadcaster CCTV said all performance indicators met expectations. It is the first electric commercial aircraft developed by COMAC, which also builds the C919 jet.

The CE-25A is an all-electric aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of about 10 tons and ten electric ducted fans. It is designed for a cruising speed of about 300 kilometers per hour and a range of about 400 kilometers, aimed at commuter-style routes between nearby cities. Before anyone climbed aboard, it completed its first uncrewed flight on February 2 and then 19 autonomous uncrewed test flights. The aircraft has not yet carried passengers, and its certification process is still ongoing. Big questions remain about battery limits, charging and whether it can become a certified alternative to regional turboprops.