Chinese J-15 fighter jet crashes during training in Hainan, pilot ejects safely VIDEO

On March 15, a Chinese Navy J-15 fighter jet crashed during a training exercise near Jialaizhen, Lingao County, in Hainan Province.

The pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft and is safe. No casualties or property damage on the ground have been reported, Caliber.Az informs, referencing foreign media. 

According to a statement from the Chinese military’s Southern Theater Command, the crash occurred in an open area of the southern island province of Hainan. The cause of the crash is under investigation, and authorities are organizing forces to address the aftermath of the incident. The PLA confirmed that “The pilot successfully ejected, and no collateral damage was caused on the ground.”

3月15日13时30分许，南部战区海军1架歼-15战斗机在进行训练时失事，坠毁于海南省临高县加来镇附近空地，飞行员成功跳伞，未造成地面附带损伤。 pic.twitter.com/AB8koNTkcC

— DS北风（风哥） (@WenJian0922) March 15, 2025

Hainan Province, known for its tropical beaches and as a popular holiday destination, is also a key military base for China in the South China Sea. The region serves as a hub for PLA destroyers and nuclear-armed submarines.

The Southern Theater Command, which oversees some of China’s most sensitive military areas, including the contested waters of the South China Sea, is tasked with defending China's territorial claims in the region.

The South China Sea has long been a flashpoint for territorial disputes, with multiple countries—including Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines—challenging China's expansive claims. Tensions have escalated in recent years, with violent clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels in disputed waters. Beijing has continued to assert its claims, despite an international ruling that its claim to most of the waterway is without legal basis.

The Chinese Navy's increasing presence in the region has raised concerns among its neighbors. Last month, the Philippine Coast Guard condemned “dangerous” maneuvers by a Chinese Navy helicopter, which reportedly flew within meters of a surveillance flight carrying journalists over the contested Scarborough Shoal.

By Khagan Isayev