Spy plane inspection team report findings

Military officials were today being briefed by a team of American technicians who have inspected a downed US Navy spy plane in China, a spokesman for the US Pacific Command said.

US Pacific Command representatives and US Pacific Fleet aviation experts have already heard from the team of inspectors from plane-maker Lockheed Martin Corp about the physical condition of the EP-3E Aries II, Army Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Barger said on Saturday.

The briefing was continuing today with discussion of the best way to return the plane to the United States, Barger said.

A recommendation will be prepared and submitted to Admiral Dennis Blair, commander in chief of the US Pacific Command, who will send it on to Defence Secretary Donald H Rumsfeld, Barger said.

The briefing on Saturday began immediately after the technicians arrived from China’s Hainan Island, where the 80 million dollar (£60 million) plane landed after being damaged in a collision with a Chinese fighter jet.

US officials say the technicians concluded the plane could be repaired and safely flown off the island. Rumsfeld wants the plane flown out, but Chinese authorities have reportedly ruled out that idea.

The four-engine turboprop plane could also be dismantled and transported by barge or aircraft.

China accuses the US plane of ramming the F-8 fighter on April 1, causing the death of the pilot, and held the plane’s 24-member crew for 11 days.

The diplomatic showdown ended with a letter from President George W Bush saying the US was ‘‘very sorry’’ for a Chinese pilot’s death and for the US plane landing without permission.

China has demanded an end to US reconnaissance flights along its territory and compensation for the incident.

US officials say the Chinese pilot caused the collision by flying recklessly. The Pentagon insists such surveillance flights are legal and will be resumed.

Two engines and one of four propellers were damaged on the plane, about the size of a Boeing 737 commercial airliner. Its nose cone is missing and pieces of metal punctured parts of the fuselage.

US officials say the crew managed to destroy much of the sensitive information and electronic eavesdropping equipment used to collect intelligence on China’s military, but that China probably has gained some valuable insight.