U.S. Diplomats Meet with EP-3E Crew, Release Date Uncertain

0 Comments | US Navy Press Releases, Apr 04, 2001

U.S diplomats met with the crew of the disabled EP-3E Aries aircraft on April 3, three days after it made an emergency landing on the island of Hainan off the southeast coast of China following a collision with a Chinese F-8.

Reports indicated the crew of 24 is in good health and has not been mistreated. However, China has said it has no intentions of releasing the crew for the time being.

The E-P3E was on a surveillance mission off the southern coast of China when it was shadowed by two supersonic Chinese F-8s (similar to Air Force F-16s). The jets flew dangerously close to the E-P3E, and one of them collided with its left wing before plunging into the Pacific. Neither the pilot nor the wreckage has been found. Chinese authorities have refused U.S. assistance to locate the downed pilot or the aircraft.

The EP-3E was forced to declare an in-flight emergency, radioed a distress signal over an international frequency and made for the nearest land, the Chinese-owned Hainan Island, more than 70 miles away.

After landing, the last message that was heard was that everyone on board was safe and the Chinese requested the plane's engines be shut down.

The squadron is from Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 1, based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.

The EP-3E Aries II is a long-range, four-engine turboprop reconnaissance aircraft that uses the same type airframe as the Navy's P-3 Orion. The aircraft contains sensitive high-gain antennas and receivers, and can listen to a wide range of electronic emissions from deep within a targeted territory. More information about the EP-3E Aries aircraft can be found at http://www.navy.mil under "fact file."