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Annan Expresses Concern Over Chinese Missing Pilot
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in Nairobi expressed his sympathy and solicitude for the family of the missing Chinese pilot April 3, hoping that the pilot would be found as soon as possible.
Annan said in a press conference that he had been concerned over the air collision and hoped that China and the US could settle the issue peacefully.
On the morning of April 1, a US EP-3 electronic reconnaissance plane flew in the airspace southeast of China's Hainan Island. At 8:36 Beijing time, it approached the airspace over China's territorial waters off the city of Sanya to conduct surveillance. A unit of the Chinese Navy sent two F-8 fighters to follow and keep a watch on the US plane. Then, at 9:07, The US plane suddenly veered at a wide angle towards the Chinese planes, which were closer to baseline of the Chinese side. The US plane's nose and left wing rammed the tail of one of the Chinese planes, causing it to lose control and plunge into the sea.
Now the Chinese pilot is still missing despite all-out efforts to search for him. The Chinese Government has made a serious representation and lodged protests against the US side.
By PD Online staff member Li Heng
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