US spy planes over South China Sea likely surveyed nuclear fallout of sub collision, observers say

Name: US submarine strikes unknown underwater object in disputed South China Sea
Uploaded: 2021-11-02T03:00:14.000Z
Duration: 3 min 10 s
Description: US submarine strikes unknown underwater object in disputed South China Sea

The WC-135 Constant Phoenix, which detects radioactive debris, was among five US reconnaissance planes in the South China Sea, satellite photos show

The flyovers came weeks after the USS Connecticut nuclear attack submarine was involved in an underwater collision in the area

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US submarine strikes unknown underwater object in disputed South China Sea

Kristin Huang

Published: 11:00am, 2 Nov 2021Updated: 2:08pm, 2 Nov 2021

US special-purpose aircraft the Constant Phoenix may have been in the South China Sea region to examine radioactive material, military experts said, after a Beijing-based think tank cited satellite images to report five American reconnaissance planes operating in the area at the weekend.

This comes a month after a US Navy nuclear submarine hit an unidentified object while submerged in international waters in the South China Sea, prompting China to express serious concerns about a “nuclear leak”.

The primary mission for the Boeing WC-135 Constant Phoenix, nicknamed “nuke sniffer”, is collecting atmospheric samples to detect and identify radioactive debris from nuclear explosions.

The Constant Phoenix special-purpose aircraft during flight. Photo: US Air Force via AP

“It’s rare for the WC-135 to come to the South China Sea region. Its last activity in the region dates back to January 2020,” the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative, a maritime think tank based in Beijing, said on its official WeChat account on Sunday.

At least 11 sailors on board the nuclear attack submarine USS Connecticut were injured in the underwater accident on October 2. A recent satellite image showed the sub had part of its nose removed, suggesting it may have sustained damage in a head-on collision.

China has slammed the lack of details on the accident as “irresponsible” and demanded to know “whether it caused a nuclear leak that would contaminate the marine environment”. A statement released by the US navy 7th Fleet on Monday said the vessel grounded on an uncharted seamount while operating in international waters in the Indo-Pacific region.

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