The 10-minute conversation between Rumsfeld and Osborn occurred shortly after 11 a.m. Eastern Time. Rumsfeld was in his Pentagon office and Osborn was with 23 members of his crew on an U.S. Air Force C-17 plane headed for Hawaii. Rumsfeld told reporters that the EP-3 wasn't conducting espionage and was justified in flying its mission over the South China Sea. It was on a well-known flight path that we had used for decades.
Many countries perform such flights, including China.
The damaged jet plunged into the sea and the pilot is still missing. Bits of metal from the collision had pierced portions of the EP-3's fuselage, Rumsfeld remarked, making such noise from the rushing air that it was very difficult for the crew to hear. He showed reporters videotape of one such encounter that occurred Jan. 24. The jet seemed very unstable flying at lower speeds, Rumsfeld said, and at times the video showed the Chinese plane approaching within feet of the EP-3.