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| China mourns first female J-10 pilot after death in training | China mourns first female J-10 pilot after death in training |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| China is mourning the death of Yu Xu, the country's first female J-10 jet pilot who was killed during an aerobatic training session on Saturday. | China is mourning the death of Yu Xu, the country's first female J-10 jet pilot who was killed during an aerobatic training session on Saturday. |
| Ms Yu was hit by the wing of another aircraft after ejecting from her plane, Chinese media reported. | |
| The domestically made jet crashed into a field in Tangshan, Hebei province. | The domestically made jet crashed into a field in Tangshan, Hebei province. |
| "We have lost a comrade and the air force feels great pain and sadness for Yu Xu's sacrifice," air force spokesman Shen Jinke said. | "We have lost a comrade and the air force feels great pain and sadness for Yu Xu's sacrifice," air force spokesman Shen Jinke said. |
| According to reports, Ms Yu was forced to eject from her plane after it collided with another. | According to reports, Ms Yu was forced to eject from her plane after it collided with another. |
| Another pilot, 35, survived the crash. He is said to have been her co-pilot and has already been discharged from hospital, the Beijing News reported. | Another pilot, 35, survived the crash. He is said to have been her co-pilot and has already been discharged from hospital, the Beijing News reported. |
| The black box and the engine of the aircraft have been retrieved and an investigation is underway. | The black box and the engine of the aircraft have been retrieved and an investigation is underway. |
| Ms Yu, from Sichuan province, joined the air force in 2005. She was the first of four female pilots to qualify to fly the two-seater, multi-role J-10 fighter jet. | Ms Yu, from Sichuan province, joined the air force in 2005. She was the first of four female pilots to qualify to fly the two-seater, multi-role J-10 fighter jet. |
| "I am very lucky that I can fly," Ms Yu had said in an interview. "I don't need to think about anything but flying. If possible, I can look at the skies to divert my attention. It is another world. It's wonderful." | "I am very lucky that I can fly," Ms Yu had said in an interview. "I don't need to think about anything but flying. If possible, I can look at the skies to divert my attention. It is another world. It's wonderful." |
| Many netizens expressed sadness at the sudden death of Ms Yu, who was affectionately known as "golden peacock". | Many netizens expressed sadness at the sudden death of Ms Yu, who was affectionately known as "golden peacock". |
| "(Ms Yu) left the world at most beautiful stage of one's life. What a saddening loss," internet user Dong Tao Jun wrote on Weibo. | "(Ms Yu) left the world at most beautiful stage of one's life. What a saddening loss," internet user Dong Tao Jun wrote on Weibo. |
| Another netizen said: "Soldiers sacrifice themselves for the sake of the safety and happiness of the people… We are thankful for the contribution of soldiers." | Another netizen said: "Soldiers sacrifice themselves for the sake of the safety and happiness of the people… We are thankful for the contribution of soldiers." |
| However, three crashes involving the J-10 fighter jets took place last year, and some people were dissatisfied with the way state media reported her death. | However, three crashes involving the J-10 fighter jets took place last year, and some people were dissatisfied with the way state media reported her death. |
| "It is more important to investigate the causes of the accident. Was it a design problem? Was it a problem with the procedures? Was it because of inadequate training?" | "It is more important to investigate the causes of the accident. Was it a design problem? Was it a problem with the procedures? Was it because of inadequate training?" |
| "[The reports] shouldn't just be about arousing emotions. We will only be able to avoid similar accidents if the causes of the accident are found," said one Weibo user. | "[The reports] shouldn't just be about arousing emotions. We will only be able to avoid similar accidents if the causes of the accident are found," said one Weibo user. |