Chinese military resumes training flights after ‘short’ break to assess fatal crash
Pilot of J-15 jet, the core of the Liaoning aircraft carrier, died while practising landing at inland air base in April, but one analyst questions whether all the problems have been fixed
The Chinese military suspended carrier-based jet fighter pilot training for nearly two months after a fatal crash in late April, state media reported on Sunday.
The reports also gave further details of the moments leading up to the J-15 jet crash that killed its PLA pilot during a simulated deck landing at an inland base.
J-15s are the core jets for China’s aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, and other more advanced domestic carriers reportedly under construction.
Fatal crash of Chinese J-15 carrier jet puts question mark over troubled programme
One military analyst said resuming test flights after just 50 or so days might pose risks for pilots.
First-class PLA pilot Zhang Chao, 29, was practising a landing on April 27 after two rounds of low-altitude flights at sea, Xinhua reported. But the fly-by-wire flight control system malfunctioned on touchdown, causing the J-15 to pitch up by 80 degrees.
Zhang ejected but was not far enough above the ground for his parachute to function, and later died of his injuries, state TV reported. In all, 4.4 seconds elapsed between the malfunction and Zhang ejecting, Xinhua said.
