The new developments came as conflicting versions surfaced about the events surrounding the collision. One Hong Kong newspaper quoted Chinese sources as saying a second F-8 fighter pilot sought permission to shoot down the spy plane after the collision. It also quoted the sources as saying a scuffle broke out between a crew member and a Chinese official as the Chinese attempted to board the spy plane for the first time. The South China Morning Post says its sources revealed that pilot Zhao Yu, who was flying with Wang Wei to intercept the spy plane, was refused permission to fire on the plane after the collision. The paper's sources say the U.S. plane attempted to fly northeast, away from China, after the collision, but Zhao instead tried to force the American plane to land at an airbase on Hainan Island.
China contends the plane landed on Chinese soil without permission.
Once on the ground, the paper quotes sources as saying a Chinese officer wrestled a US airman to the floor as Chinese officials entered the plane. Pilot's version 'incomplete' The Post's source said that Zhao's account was incomplete. It says Zhao radioed to military ground control for permission to shoot down the spy plane, but was refused. Mainland newspaper China Daily also reported that Wang Wei, the missing pilot, was communicating with Zhao before his F-8 fighter plunged into the sea. Its version of events does not include any request to shoot down the U.S. plane, nor its attempt to guide the U.S. plane to a Chinese airbase.