Pilot Ejected, Status Still Unknown

A Chinese fighter jet went down during an air show performance Friday in the northern Chinese province of Shaanxi.

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There had been conflicting reports about the type of jet and whether the pilot survived the accident. The French news service AFP and the Associated Press report that the official Chinese news agency Xinhua said the aircraft was a two-place JH-7 fighter-bomber. Early reports from China state television CCTV indicated that it might have been a Xiaolong FC-1 fighter jet.

A video posted on YouTube shows the pilot ejecting just seconds before the jet impacts the ground. His parachute is seen to at least partially deploy, and the Associated Press reports that he suffered only minor injuries. A second crewmenber on board the plane apparently was unable to eject in time, and was fatally injured on impact.

A spokesperson for the China International General Aviation Convention, which organized the show at Xian's Pucheng Neifu airport, told AFP that "The plane had some malfunction and an investigation team has been sent to the scene." Xinhua reporters said that the show was continuing even while heavy black smoke could be seen rising from the accident site.

The show, which was expected to attract some 100,000 people over its three-day run, featured aircraft and performances from several countries including the U.S.

FMI: Air Show Website