Mu was fascinated by the history of that era because his hometown, Dandong, Liaoning province, was close to where their fleet's fate was sealed.

On Tuesday, Embraer confirmed the crash and said it was sending a team of technicians to the accident site to assist Chinese authorities in an investigation of the cause.

After a mob of farmers killed and gouged out the eyes of a policeman, Mr Gandhi rushed to the area and expressed sympathy-for the farmers.