Chinese fighter jet crashes into homes killing 1

BEIJING -- A Chinese fighter jet of the air force crashed into a house during a training mission in central China.

Chinese fighter jet crashes into homes killing 1

BEIJING -- A Chinese fighter jet of the air force crashed into a house during a training mission in central China. One person was killed and two were injured, according to state media.

These reports are unusual as China tends to keep military accidents secret or emphasize the heroism of the pilot in avoiding ground casualties. Recent reports from foreign governments allege reckless flying by Chinese fighter planes that endangered their military surveillance aircraft crews.

CCTV, the military channel of state broadcaster CCTV, reported that the J-7 plane crashed near an airport in Xiangyang, Hubei province, on Thursday morning. According to reports, the pilot was able to get out safely while some homes were damaged.

Pilot and passengers were both taken to hospital. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The J-7 is an older single-engine model. It was built from the Soviet MiG-21 in the 1950s. Production ceased in 2013.

However, large numbers of the planes are still in use to provide air protection for regional areas. China also sold the F-7 export version to over a dozen countries. Many of these countries have since retired the planes.

China's civil aviation industry is under fire after the March 21 crash of a China Eastern Airlines passenger plane in which all 132 passengers were killed.

On May 12, a flight of Tibet Airlines with 122 passengers was leaving Chongqing, in the southwest. It veered off the runway to catch fire and set itself ablaze. Several passengers suffered minor injuries, but no one was hurt.

Recent concerns have been raised by Canada and Australia about reckless flying by Chinese fighter pilots.

The Canadian military stated that Chinese planes attempted to divert a Canadian long range patrol aircraft from its path. They also claimed that the crew had to quickly change directions to avoid a collision.

Australia claimed that a Chinese fighter plane attacked an Australian air force plane performing aerial surveillance in South China Sea.

According to Richard Marles, Australian Defense Minister, the Chinese J-16 was quickly accelerated and cut in front the Australian plane. Chaff with small pieces of aluminum that were designed to confuse radars was released into the engine of the latter's, which was then absorbed by the former's engine.

China has defended its pilots' actions and blamed other countries for conducting surveillance on its territory in order to stop Chinese development.

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