Posted on 08/17/2010 10:56:49 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
(LEAD) N. Korean helicopter crashes in China, killing pilot: source
SHENYANG, China, Aug. 18 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean helicopter crashed in a Chinese border area, killing the pilot aboard who may have attempted to defect to Russia, intelligence sources here said Wednesday.
The crash took place in Fushun Prefecture in the province of Liaoning Tuesday afternoon, the sources said, adding the pilot was the only person in the chopper when it crashed.
"The pilot died on the spot," one source said, adding the Chinese authorities were able to identify the nationality of the helicopter only after the crash.
Chinese authorities had confirmed that a small aircraft flew into their territory but did not identify its origin.
"The helicopter unexpectedly crashed while flying over Fushun," the source said, declining to be identified. It remains unclear what the model of the aircraft was.
Another source said that the helicopter is believed to have lost its direction while flying to Russia after escaping North Korea. China has a repatriation pact with North Korea, and that may have led the pilot to choose Russia as his destination.
Fushun is about 200 kilometers away from a North Korean air base in the border town of Sinuiju. The number of North Korean soldiers defecting from their impoverished homeland has increased in recent months as food shortages deepen, observers say.
“Is the rescued guy already dead?”
If the pilot survived he could give the Chinese a good look into the readiness of the NK airforce. If they say he’s dead they don’t have to return him.
This sounds just like a chinese Arkancide.
Pilot wanting to leave socialist paradise. Obviously mentally ill. Obama administration spokesman states if not killed in crash, ought to be drug tested.
It is not a MiG-15. The ident is a MiG-21.
The pilot probably tried to bail out... only to realize that their ejection seat hadn’t been worked on since the Norks bought the MiG-21 from the USSR all those many years again.
Then died on impact.
According to Kyodo News, there is a survivor from the crash who was able to parachute down to safety, quoting Hong Kong media.
Summary: A reporter from Yonhap News drove to reach the crash site in Fushun. However, the site was cordoned off by local police. Checkpoints were set up to restrict access to the site. He managed to interview witnesses and other locals. According to them, it crashed between 3 and 4 pm yesterday(Aug. 17.) It flew low and circled over the village a few times. It made some erratic noises while flying, suddenly stalled and crashed. The plane was relatively intact after the crash.
“Let me be clear...he had the right to leave but I won’t comment on whether it was wise.”
FR rocks. I too love it when we get the news out......correctly!
bump
The Russian FSB would have sent the pilot back to North Korea.
Not to mention the fact that Russia has S-300’s and other air defense assets close to North Korea... That’s why the guy flew to China and hoped he could get to Russia through there. All futile though, because the Russians will send Northkors back to North Korea.
I read an article in a magazine somewhere about an American civolan pilot who bought a MiG-21. He described telling the tower that VERY quickly after take off, that they would be hearing from him again, and that final approach would be like 200kts and that he would be nearly out of fuel.
Do you think that the owner of the house that the plane crashed into will get compensation from a) China, b) NK or c) no compensation?
Well done, sir. Bravo!
The North Korean Air Force by Google Earth
http://freekorea.us/2007/04/29/the-north-korean-air-force-by-google-earth/
us =>us
http://www.freekorea.us/2010/08/18/north-korean-fighter-pilot-dies-in-possible-defection-attempt/
Thanks for the ping.
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