The Chinese military rarely discloses information about aircraft accidents, but recently, there was a fighter jet crash in Lingao County, Hainan Province. The incident occurred when a fighter jet belonging to the Southern Theater Command Navy crashed during a training exercise. The pilot managed to eject safely, and the exact cause of the accident is still under investigation.
According to a statement released by the Chinese Navy on March 15th, around 1:30 pm, a fighter jet from the South Theater Command Navy crashed near Jialai Town in Lingao County. The pilot ejected from the aircraft, and the Navy is currently conducting post-accident procedures while awaiting further investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
Official information did not specify the type of aircraft involved or the number of personnel onboard. However, social media videos circulating online indicate that the crashed aircraft was a J-15 fighter jet. The pilot parachuted to safety at an extremely low altitude with the assistance of nearby individuals, and local residents gathered to witness the incident.
This rare disclosure of a fighter jet crash by the Chinese military brings to mind a similar incident in March 2019 when a Navy Aviation Brigade fighter jet crashed during a training flight in Ledong County, Hainan Province, resulting in the loss of two pilots. At that time, the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense confirmed the sacrifice of the two pilots, Ren Yongtao and Zhan Jinxin.