China’s 1st woman fighter pilot killed

Beijing, November 14 

One of China’s first female fighter pilots and a member of the country’s air force aerobatics team was killed in a training accident over the weekend, according to Chinese state-run media.

Captain Yu Xu, 30, died on Saturday during a routine training flight with the aerobatics team, CNN cited the reports as saying. The military did not provide details of the accident in Hebei province, but state-run media, citing military sources and witnesses said Yu ejected from her aircraft after it collided with another during the training. After the ejection, the wing of another plane hit Yu which left her dead.

Yu’s male co-pilot ejected safely and survived, the report said. The other jet also landed safety. Yu was the first of four women who are certified to fly the J-10. Yu flew a J-10 fighter with China’s August 1st Aerobatics Team. Her last performance was at Airshow China in Zhuhai earlier this month. — IANS