Crippled surveillance plane can be fixed, U.S. team says

The damaged plane is still on the tarmac in Hainan

From Jamie McIntyre
CNN Military Affairs Correspondent

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. civilian experts have concluded that a damaged surveillance plane can be repaired and flown off Hainan Island, Pentagon sources said.

The five-member assessment team told the Pentagon the plane sustained no structural damage that would prevent its repair and flight, if China permits that, sources said.

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The plane has been impounded at a Chinese military base on the island since April 1, when it was forced to land after colliding with a Chinese fighter jet over the South China Sea. All 24 U.S. servicemen and women aboard the plane were detained by Chinese authorities and released unharmed 11 days later.

A Chinese fighter jet and its pilot have been missing since the collision.

Pentagon officials said on Friday that while the United States would prefer to fly the EP-3E back to U.S. territory, the Chinese have indicated they would prefer the plane be cut into pieces and shipped back.

Pentagon officials earlier said the assessment team from Lockheed-Martin had completed its inspection of the U.S. surveillance plane and were expected to return to the United States on Saturday.

Pentagon officials cautioned that the team's initial report did not specify what would be involved in the repair, because communication from the team was limited for security reasons.

On Thursday, Chinese officials at the Lingshui military base on Hainan Island balked at a request to provide electricity so the Lockheed-Martin team could power up the plane's systems. Officials said the power was provided Friday.

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China warns of possible arms race
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Technicians give spy plane the twice over
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U.S. spy plane technicians land in Hainan
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China invites U.S. to inspect spy plane
April 29, 2001

Chinese Foreign Ministry
U.S. Embassy of the People's Republic of China
U.S. Navy factfile: The EP-3
U.S. Dept of Defense
White House
Lockheed Martin

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