The Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona, has added a significant and historically important aircraft to its extensive collection: the EP-3E Aries II, serial number 156511. This aircraft gained worldwide attention following its involvement in a dramatic mid-air collision with a Chinese fighter jet during the Hainan Island incident in 2001.
The aircraft’s arrival at the museum on October 22, 2024, was confirmed via an announcement on the museum’s Instagram account, marking a major milestone in preserving a pivotal piece of modern military aviation history.
Towed from the nearby 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG), commonly referred to as the “Boneyard,” the EP-3E Aries II will undergo a comprehensive restoration process before being displayed to the public. The Pima Air & Space Museum, one of the world’s largest aviation museums, is renowned for its vast collection of military and civilian aircraft, and the inclusion of the EP-3E Aries II represents yet another chapter in its storied legacy.
The EP-3E Aries II, a variant of the P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft, has long been recognized as one of the U.S. Navy’s most crucial signals intelligence (SIGINT) platforms. Its advanced capabilities in intercepting communications and detecting, classifying, and locating electronic emitters tied to complex air defense systems made it an indispensable asset during the Cold War and beyond. The aircraft, and the fleet it belonged to, has been central to U.S. military reconnaissance for decades.
The EP-3E Aries II was operated by Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One (VQ-1), known as the “World Watchers.” Since its inception, VQ-1 has been the Navy’s premier SIGINT unit, responsible for providing crucial intelligence from the skies. The squadron’s counterpart, VQ-2 “Sandeman,” was disbanded in 2012, leaving VQ-1 as the sole operator of the fleet. Despite plans to retire the EP-3E Aries II, delays have extended the operational life of some of the last remaining aircraft in service.
The arrival of serial number 156511 at the museum is especially meaningful, given its unique place in history. This particular EP-3E was involved in a high-stakes incident that brought U.S.-China relations to the brink of crisis in 2001.
On April 1, 2001, the EP-3E Aries II, designated 156511, was conducting a routine reconnaissance mission over the South China Sea, flying out of Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. Its mission was to collect signals intelligence by monitoring Chinese military communications, a task that had become increasingly critical as tensions rose between the United States and China over regional security and sovereignty in the South China Sea.
The aircraft’s 24-person crew, which included members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, were part of the VQ-1 squadron, well-versed in the risks associated with such missions. Operating at an altitude of 22,500 feet, the EP-3E crew was flying in international airspace off the coast of Hong Kong when their radar detected the approach of two People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) J-8D Finback interceptors, launched from Lingshui Airbase on Hainan Island, China.
The J-8 interceptors were piloted by Chinese military personnel tasked with monitoring U.S. reconnaissance flights in the region. One of these pilots, identified as Lt. Cmdr. Wang Wei, was known for his aggressive flying tactics, often approaching foreign aircraft at dangerously close distances in what the U.S. military referred to as “headbutting.”
On that fateful day, Lt. Cmdr. Wang Wei approached the EP-3E Aries II multiple times, coming perilously close to the aircraft. According to U.S. Navy personnel aboard the EP-3E, Wang’s tactics included fast, low passes and reckless maneuvers, designed to intimidate the American crew. In previous encounters, Wang had flown so close to U.S. reconnaissance planes that he had shown the crew his email address scribbled on a piece of paper through his cockpit window.
Despite diplomatic protests from the U.S. regarding these dangerous intercepts, China continued to defend its actions, claiming they were protecting sovereign airspace.
On April 1, during Wang’s third pass near the EP-3E, disaster struck. Wang miscalculated the distance between his fighter jet and the larger American aircraft. The turbulent wake of the EP-3E’s propellers created instability for the smaller J-8, leading to a mid-air collision. One of the EP-3E’s propellers sheared through the J-8, slicing it in half. Wang Wei ejected from his disintegrating fighter but did not survive.
Crisis in the Skies
The collision severely damaged the EP-3E, ripping off its nose cone and causing significant damage to its fuselage, radome, and one of its engines. The U.S. aircraft, now uncontrollable and plummeting rapidly, lost 14,000 feet in a matter of moments. Inside, the crew fought to regain control as cabin depressurization added to their peril. Pilot Lieutenant Shane Osborn managed to stabilize the plane after a harrowing struggle.
Faced with limited options, Osborn made the life-saving decision to land the crippled aircraft at the nearest airfield, Lingshui Airbase on Hainan Island — the same base from which the Chinese fighters had launched. The emergency landing was executed successfully, despite the aircraft’s significant damage and loss of control systems.
Shortly after the EP-3E touched down, it was surrounded by Chinese military personnel. The 24 crew members were detained by the People’s Liberation Army Navy, marking the start of an intense diplomatic standoff between the U.S. and China.
The Hainan Island incident quickly escalated into an international crisis. China accused the U.S. of violating its airspace and claimed that the EP-3E had caused the collision by veering into the path of Wang’s fighter jet. In contrast, the U.S. maintained that the EP-3E had been flying in international airspace and that the reckless actions of the Chinese pilot had led to the accident.
As the crew was detained, China’s government conducted repeated interrogations, while the U.S. government scrambled to negotiate their release. After 11 days of tense diplomacy, the 24 American service members were finally freed and flown back to U.S. soil. President George W. Bush expressed his regret for the incident, though the U.S. stopped short of issuing the formal apology that China had demanded.
While the crew had initiated emergency procedures to destroy classified materials onboard the EP-3E, the Chinese military was able to recover some sensitive intelligence from the damaged aircraft. The incident underscored the high-stakes nature of military intelligence operations and the delicate balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region.
Following the crew’s release, the U.S. successfully negotiated the return of the EP-3E, though China insisted that the aircraft be dismantled and shipped out in pieces. The disassembled parts were sent back to the U.S., where the aircraft was rebuilt using components from other decommissioned planes. In November 2002, the restored EP-3E returned to service, continuing its critical intelligence-gathering role for several more years.
The EP-3E Aries II, serial number 156511, continued flying missions for nearly two decades after the Hainan Island incident, contributing to U.S. intelligence operations across the globe. The aircraft was spotted as recently as 2020 over the East China Sea, a testament to its durability and importance in modern military history.
