U.S. Navy aircraft collides with Chinese fighter
TOKYO -- A U.S. Navy reconnaissance aircraft collided Sunday morning
with a Chinese fighter jet over the South China Sea, according
to a Navy official.
The U.S. Navy Pacific Command said that Chinese jets intercepted
the Navy plane, which was flying over international waters.
One of the Chinese jets collided into the wing of the Navy aircraft
causing the pilot to issue a 'Mayday' warning that it was seeking an
emergency landing.
The Navy EP-3 Aries plane landed headed for the nearest available airfield on
the island of Hainan. Chinese authorities said the crew of aircraft were
uninjured, but have not allowed communication with them so far.
They said that they were still searching for the pilot
of the fighter plane.
Joseph Prueher, U.S. ambassador to China, said that
U.S. officials would be able to meet with the crew
on Monday.
The incident may strain already tense relations between
the two countries. Beijing has repeatedly warned
Washington recently against selling sophisticated
naval vessels, each priced at about US$1 billion,
to Taiwan.
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