A fighter jet crashed in a huge fireball during a training exercise.
The Chinese military confirmed that the pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft.
Horror footage showed the J-15 fighter jet nose-diving towards the ground before crashing into a field.
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A huge fireball then filled the air.
The pilot’s parachute was seen descending as flames and black smoke billowed into the sky.
The naval fighter jet crashed in the southern island province of Hainan near Hong Kong at around 1.30 pm on Saturday (15 Mar)
The Chinese military’s Southern Theater Command said the plane crashed in an open area and no one else was affected.
They also confirmed that the pilot escaped with his life.
They said in a statement: “The pilot successfully ejected, and no collateral damage was caused on the ground.”
An investigation has been launched into the cause of the accident.
The southern command has been involved in a number of clashes with Philippine vessels in recent years over contested islands and reefs in the South China Sea.
China is said to be looking to expand its presence in disputed areas, ignoring an international ruling that states most of the waterway has no legal basis.
Last month, the Philippine Coast Guard slammed “dangerous” manoeuvres by a Chinese Navy chopper that flew close to a surveillance flight with a team of journalists over the disputed Scarborough Shoal.
In March 2019, a Chinese Navy fighter jet crashed during a training exercise in Hainan, killing two pilots on board.
In April 2018, another pilot was killed when a J-15 crashed during a training exercise, as reported by Need To Know.
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