China’s first woman fighter pilot killed in crash

One of China’s first female fighter pilots and a member of the country’s air force aerobatics team was killed in a training accident over the weekend, according to Chinese state-run media.

Captain Yu Xu, 30, died on Saturday during a routine training flight with the aerobatics team, CNN cited the reports as saying.

The Chinese military did not provide details of the accident in Hebei province, but state-run media, citing military sources and witnesses said Yu ejected from her aircraft after it collided with another during the training.

After the ejection, the wing of another plane hit Yu which left her dead, the report said.

Yu’s male co-pilot ejected safely and survived, the report said. The other jet also landed safety. 

The flight data recorder, or black box, from Yu’s jet was recovered as authorities investigate the accident. Yu was the first of four women who are certified to fly the J-10, a single-engine multi-role jet that entered service in 2004 and is considered the first Chinese domestic fighter to rival Western fighters in its capabilities.

Yu flew a J-10 fighter with China’s August 1st Aerobatics Team. Her last performance was at Airshow China in Zhuhai earlier this month. 

J-10 fighters from China’s August 1st aerobatics team performed at Airshow China in Zhuhai on November 4. The show was Yu Xu’s last public performance.