China navy plane hits buildings, no casualties reported

Beijing, May 12: China's Defense Ministry says a navy fighter jet on a nighttime training mission has crashed into buildings in an eastern city but the pilot had ejected safely and there were no reports of casualties.

A brief report on the ministry's website said the accident occurred around 7:30 yesterday in the city of Taizhou in Zhejiang province.

It said parts of a sewing machine factory were destroyed in the crash, but the pilot had ejected and no one was apparently hurt on the ground.

It said the navy and East China Sea Fleet were investigating the cause of the crash. The type of plane involved wasn't identified.

China's navy operates older J-7 and J-8 fighters along with variants of the Russian Su-27, including a version assigned to China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning.

AP