Collision of EP-3E and J-8

Date: April 1, 2001 • Location: Sansha, China

An EP-3E United States Navy surveillance aircraft collides with a Chinese People's Liberation Army Shenyang J-8 fighter jet. The Chinese pilot ejected but is subsequently lost. The Navy crew makes an emergency landing in Hainan, China and is detained.

The Lockheed EP-3 is an electronic signals reconnaissance variant of the P-3 Orion, formerly operated by the United States Navy.