On 1 April 2001 (Beijing Time), a US Navy EP-3 turboprop electronic intelligence (ELINT) aircraft belonging to VQ-1 Electronic Warfare Squadron collided with a Chinese Navy J-8II fighter over the South China Sea. The EP-3, which took off from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, was on a surveillance mission to monitor the activities of the PLA Navy. Two J-8II fighters from PLA Naval Air Force (PLANAF) 9th Division based at Lingshui AFB, Hainan Island were on a mission to intercept the EP-3. At approximately 9:15 a.m. local time, one of the J-8II fighters had a midair collision with the EP-3, causing the loss of the fighter and its pilot Major Wang Wei.
The EP-3 was also damaged and made an emergency landing at Lingshui AFB, Hainan Island. The 24 crew and pilots of the downed EP-3 were taken prisoner by the local officials and detained for 11 days before they were finally released and sent home. The incident caused a nearly 11 day crisis between the People’s Republic of China and the United States.
On April 11, the U.S. Ambassador in Beijing Prueher said he presented a letter from the U.S. government to the Chinese foreign minister that sought to resolve the situation. The letter notes the U.S. government's regret over the loss of the missing Chinese pilot, presumed dead, and his aircraft. The letter also notes the U.S. government is sorry the damaged U.S. plane entered Chinese airspace to make an unauthorized emergency landing on Hainan. The letter also expressed appreciation for China's efforts to see to the well-being of the American crew.
The J-8II involved in the collision with the U.S. Navy EP-3 was said to be '81192' seen in this photo taken by the U.S. Navy crew onboard an EP-3 spy plane during an earlier flight mission in the South China Sea (Source: U.S. Navy)
