Language secures release of U.S. spy plane crew

China announced Wednesday it would release the detained 24 U.S. crew members; some of whom are pictured in a photo obtained by CNN

U.S. 'very sorry' for loss of Chinese pilot, landing 'without permission'

In this story: Issue not finished Close encounters RELATED STORIES, SITES

HAIKOU, China (CNN) -- The crew of a U.S. Navy spy plane will be coming home from China, the fliers released after the United States said it was "sorry" for landing on Chinese soil without permission and the loss of a Chinese pilot.

The crew was detained after a collision between their U.S. Navy reconnaissance plane and a Chinese fighter jet forced the plane to land on the Chinese island of Hainan.

TRANSCRIPT Text of U.S. letter expressing 'sincere regret'    What next for the U.S. crew? • Upon release, a chartered jet will take them to the U.S. territory of Guam. • On Guam, they will transfer to a U.S. military plane to fly to Hawaii. • In Hawaii, military officials will question them about their time in Chinese custody. Debriefing could last two to three days. • After debriefing, they will return to the plane's home base at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station near Seattle, Washington.  CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition    VIDEO A Chinese government official reads a statement announcing the decision Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) U.S. Ambassador to China Joseph Prueher praises the release Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Watch Bush's reaction to the announcement Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Jamie McIntyre reports on how the collision between U.S., Chinese planes might have happened Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   AUDIO CNN's Mike Chinoy discusses how the Chinese media is reporting U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's comments 699K/64 sec. AIFF or WAV sound    IN-DEPTH U.S.-China Collision: A diplomatic solution  • About freighter returning EP-3  • Look: Inside the EP-3  • Facts about the EP-3  • Map: Locating the incident  • Big picture: High stakes  • Classroom discussion guide  • Historical US-China timeline  • Whidbey arrival images  • Crew speaks out  • Crew's return images    GALLERY Images of some of the U.S. detainees in China    BIG PICTURE High stakes in standoff    ALSO Jiang keen to ensure U.S. relations not damaged Beijing calls for unity and stability over U.S. crew release Chinese envoy urges Congress not to block Olympic bid More related stories

A Continental airplane has been chartered by the United States to pick up the 24 crew members -- who have been under Chinese detention for 11 days -- and is being prepared for a flight from Guam to Hainan, sources told CNN.

The crew is expected to fly to Guam and then on to Hawaii for debriefing.

There was no immediate timetable for the release, although U.S. President George W. Bush said he had been assured the release would be "prompt."

In a brief statement in Washington, Bush said the situation had been difficult for both the United States and China and expressed "sorrow for the loss of the pilot."

"Our prayers are with his wife and his child," Bush said.

The Chinese had been demanding an apology for the incident. The key to obtaining the crew's release appeared to hinge on language -- specifically, the degree of sorrow expressed by the United States over the incident.

Joseph Prueher, the U.S. ambassador to China, wrote in a letter to the Chinese government that "both President (George W.) Bush and Secretary of State (Colin) Powell had expressed regret" over the incident and asked the foreign ministry to convey to the missing Chinese pilot's family and Chinese people that "we are very sorry" for the loss of life.

Key wording read: "We are very sorry the entering of China's airspace and the landing did not have verbal clearance." The letter also said U.S. officials were appreciative of China's assistance in an emergency situation.

The letter stressed that "what transpired is still unclear," however, and said "our severely crippled aircraft made an emergency landing after following international emergency procedures."

U.S. officials agreed to an April 18 meeting with Chinese officials to further discuss the incident, the letter said.

In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said "humanitarian considerations" prompted the release.

"Since the U.S. government has already said 'very sorry' to the Chinese people, the Chinese government has, out of humanitarian considerations, decided to allow the 24 people from the U.S. spy plane to leave after completion of the necessary procedures," the statement said.

Issue not finished

But, said Chen Ci, the director of the foreign ministry in Hainan province, "this is not the conclusion of the case." China wants the United States to put an end to reconnaissance missions over international waters near China, Chen said.

The United States, however, has said it has no intention of ending such flights in international airspace.

The collision between the Navy plane and the Chinese F-8 occurred in international airspace. The Chinese pilot, Wang Wei, ditched his plane and has not been found, while the Navy plane limped to Hainan island, broadcasting mayday signals, and landed.

Close encounters

The Chinese jet clipped the Navy EP-3's engine on April 1 after two close passes, Pentagon officials said on Tuesday. The collision sent the Navy plane, which had been on autopilot, into a steep dive.

The pilot pulled out of the dive and flew to Hainan Island, where the crew was detained and their plane searched while U.S. and Chinese officials debated the incident.

Much of the negotiations appeared to center on the language of a letter sent by the United States concerning the incident. China demanded that the United States take "full responsibility" and apologize.

The American side had expressed regrets that the incident took place and that the pilot was missing and presumed dead, but said the collision was an accident and that its crew had done nothing wrong.

Speculation about the pending release spread quickly via Chinese state-run media, which announced earlier on Wednesday that the Americans would be released as soon as "appropriate travel procedures" were completed.

CNN Correspondents Rebecca MacKinnon, Eileen O'Connor, Marina Kamimura, Patty Davis, and Lisa Rose Weaver contributed to this report.

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