Up to 10 executives of China Southern Airlines were possibly detained by the Hunan procuratorate on Thursday. They include the carrier's chief engineer Zhang Heping, and the president of its subsidiary Chongqing Airlines, Zhou Yingli, people close to the carrier told China Times.

According to the newspaper, most of those detained worked at the Hunan branch of China Southern Airlines. Zhang Heping was general manager and deputy Party leader of the carrier's Hunan branch from January 2003 to May 2009. He was appointed chief engineer of the Southern Airlines on June 2, 2009 and ranks 13th among the carrier's 14 executives. Zhou Yingli was formerly head of the carrier's Hunan aircraft maintenance plant, vice general manager of the Hainan branch, and general manager of the Shantou branch.

It is unclear whether these executives are themselves under investigation or assisting with the investigation of other cases.

The Guangzhou-based carrier held an internal conference Friday morning and briefed a small circle of people on the issue, the newspaper learnt.

Chongqing Airlines is 60 percent owned by China Southern Airlines and 40 percent owned by Chongqing Municipal Development & Investment Company.

China's business press carried the story above on Saturday. China.org.cn has not checked the stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.