Two pilots attempting to fly around the world refrained from criticising mainland authorities yesterday, even though one was forced down by jet fighters and the other refused entry to mainland airspace.
'If you think about it, anybody who flies aircraft into a strange country's military zone . . would get such treatment. No country would allow that,' said Colin Bodill, pilot of a microlight plane who was forced to land among paddy fields near Nanning in Guanxi province by mainland warplanes.
'After that incident, they were very kind and generous towards me. In fact, I made friends - lots of them are top-brass and intelligence people. This morning they shook my hand, gave me a big hug and invited me to come any time,' Mr Bodill said after flying to Hong Kong from Nanning after the authorities released him.
Mr Bodill, 49, is seeking to be the first person to circle the globe in a microlight. He is accompanied by former Hong Kong resident Briton Jennifer Murray, 60, who is aiming to be the first woman to fly solo around the world in a helicopter.
Mr Bodill was flying the Hanoi to Hong Kong leg when he was caught in a storm on the Vietnam-China border and lost direction. He decided to continue flying along the coastline where the weather was calmer.
'At this stage, I encountered two military Chinese jet fighters. I had no radio contact with them so I didn't know what their intention was,' he said.
'They got closer and closer until we got into a dangerous state when they flew close and swirled slowly in front of me . . . they almost spiralled into the aircraft.' Mr Bodill decided to lose height and headed towards the coast. 'The jets got more aggressive, firing some flares, which they said were trying to guide me towards the airport,' he said.
