Damaged U.S. spy plane arrives in Georgia

A Russian-built Antonov-124 cargo jet, carrying the EP-3E Aries fuselage, lands at Dobbins Air Reserve Base

MARIETTA, Georgia (CNN) -- A disassembled U.S. Navy spy plane arrived Thursday at a military air base outside Atlanta after spending three months grounded in China.

Most of the EP-3E Aries, including its fuselage, was flown from China to Dobbins Air Reserve Base in the cargo hold of a Russian-built Antonov-124 cargo jet. The aircraft left Hawaii's Hickam Air Force Base on Wednesday on the last leg of its trip.

The electronic surveillance plane had been grounded on China's Hainan Island after an April 1 collision with a Chinese fighter jet shadowing it over the South China Sea. The Chinese pilot was lost in the crash. The U.S. plane made an emergency landing on Hainan, and its 24-member crew was held in China for 11 days before being released.

VIDEO A cargo plane carrying what is left of the EP-3 spy plane that landed in China arrives at Dobbins Air Reserve Base (July 5) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   EXTRA INFORMATION Images of spy plane disassembly     RESOURCES Message board

The plane could have been repaired and flown back to the United States, but the Chinese government insisted the plane would have to be taken apart and flown out in pieces. Pentagon officials said the four-engine turboprop will be reassembled and equipped with upgraded electronics at the Lockheed Martin plant located at the base.

Other parts from the plane were flown to Kadena Air Base on the island of Okinawa in Japan. Cmdr. John Fleming, a spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Command, told CNN those parts may be forwarded to Georgia if it's determined they are still usable.