IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 106

Commending the crew of the United States Navy EP–3 Aries II reconnaissance aircraft that on April 1, 2001, while flying in international airspace

off the coast of China, was involved in a mid-air collision with a Chinese

fighter aircraft for their outstanding performance of duty and exemplary

conduct and expressing the sense of Congress concerning continued

United States reconnaissance and surveillance flights in the area.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 25, 2001

Mr. SKELTON submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on Armed Services

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Commending the crew of the United States Navy EP–3

Aries II reconnaissance aircraft that on April 1, 2001,

while flying in international airspace off the coast of

China, was involved in a mid-air collision with a Chinese

fighter aircraft for their outstanding performance of duty

and exemplary conduct and expressing the sense of Congress concerning continued United States reconnaissance

and surveillance flights in the area.

Whereas on April 1, 2001, a United States Navy EP–3 Aries

II reconnaissance aircraft on a routine reconnaissance

and surveillance mission in international airspace off the

coast of China was intercepted by two F–8 fighter jet aircraft of the People’s Republic of China;
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Whereas one of the F–8 fighters flew dangerously close to the

EP–3 aircraft and collided with it, resulting in structural

damage to the EP–3 aircraft and loss of altitude and

control;

Whereas there have been other incidents of Chinese military

pilots being overly aggressive in intercepting United

States reconnaissance aircraft operating in international

airspace;

Whereas the crew of the United States aircraft transmitted

a series of ‘‘Mayday’’ distress calls and, despite severe

damage to the aircraft, was able to successfully land at

the nearest airfield, the Lingshui military airfield on Hainan Island, China;

Whereas the entire EP–3 crew conducted themselves in an

exemplary manner, both in safely landing the aircraft

notwithstanding the severe structural damage sustained

and in following prescribed procedures for minimizing the

compromise of sensitive national security information;

Whereas the 24 members of the EP–3 crew were detained

against their will for 11 days before being released; and

Whereas after the landing, personnel of the People’s Liberation Army of the People’s Republic of China boarded the

EP–3 aircraft, notwithstanding its status under international law as property of the United States: Now,

therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That (a) Congress commends the 24 mem3 bers of the crew of the United States Navy EP–3 Aries

4 II reconnaissance aircraft that on April 1, 2001, was
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1 struck by a F–8 fighter aircraft of the People’s Republic

2 of China in a mid-air collision and in particular—

3 (1) commends the crew for the conduct of their

4 reconnaissance and surveillance mission in inter5 national airspace in accordance with international

6 law and prescribed United States Navy flight proce7 dures, notwithstanding the dangerous actions of the

8 Chinese aircraft;

9 (2) commends the pilot and other members of

10 the crew responsible for operation of the aircraft for

11 their outstanding performance following the collision

12 with the Chinese aircraft, first in regaining control

13 of the aircraft and then in successfully landing the

14 aircraft;

15 (3) commends the crew for their actions in ad16 hering to prescribed procedures for minimizing the

17 compromise of sensitive national security informa18 tion; and

19 (4) commends the entire crew for their personal

20 conduct while being detained by the People’s Repub21 lic of China during the 11-day period following their

22 landing on Hainan Island, China.

23 (b) It is the sense of Congress that—

24 (1) the April 1, 2001, incident described in sub25 section (a) should not be the basis for a reduction
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1 in, or cessation of, lawful reconnaissance and sur2 veillance flights in that area by United States Armed

3 Forces aircraft;

4 (2) the United States Navy EP–3 aircraft now

5 sitting on a military airfield on Hainan Island,

6 China, should be immediately returned to the United

7 States; and

8 (3) continued interception and aggressive tac9 tics by Chinese pilots toward lawful United States

10 reconnaissance and surveillance flights may under11 mine important relationships between the United

12 States and People’s Republic of China.

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