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Close calls for China’s J-20 before stealth fighter’s deployment, Avic says
- Manufacturer says a serious incident was narrowly averted in 2012 and warnings sounded in 2016
- The fifth-generation jet made its maiden flight more than a decade ago
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China’s most advanced stealth fighter the J-20 narrowly avoided a “serious accident” in a test flight nine years ago during the early days of the aircraft’s development, according to its manufacturer.
Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Avic) said the incident occurred on December 18, 2012, as one of the aircraft was taxiing on a runway, taxiing at high speed.
The cockpit panel readings were green but ground data sensors sounded a warning and ground control ordered the test to be aborted immediately, just three minutes into the procedure.
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“According to retro analysis, had the order been 2 to 3 minutes later, a major accident could have occurred,” Avic said on its social media account on Wednesday to mark the 11th anniversary of the plane’s maiden flight.
The Chengdu J-20 is the third fifth-generation stealth fighter in service in the world and a key element of China’s ambitions to modernise its military and draw level with other major powers.
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But it was not easy leapfrogging some of the most advanced technologies. Another J-20 plane fault was reported during a test flight on May 17, 2016, Avic said.
During that incident, monitoring software sounded a warning, and ground control and engineers guided the pilot to resolve the problem and return safely to ground.
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