Two Chinese Military Pilots, Including Senior Navy Commander, Killed in Training: Report

A senior tactical commander was among two Chinese military pilots who died during frontline flight training exercises last month, according to media reports, in a rare disclosure of fatalities involving the Chinese armed forces.

The deaths came to light through regional government notices and local media reports cited by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post . Beijing has not issued any official statement, and it remains unclear whether the two officers were involved in the same incident or were flying the same aircraft.

One of the deceased, Fang Ming , 38, was a senior colonel serving as a tactical commander in the People's Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command Naval Aviation unit. A report in Hefei Daily said Fang died on June 10 while carrying out a flight training mission.

Local authorities in Lujiang County, Anhui province, held a memorial service for Fang on July 3, attended by more than 200 people, including military personnel from his unit. The Southern Theatre Command's Political Work Department posthumously honoured him as a "martyr." Fang had previously received a third-class merit in 2018 and a second-class merit in 2022 for combat readiness and training.

Former colleague Xia Yong described Fang as a dedicated officer who consistently volunteered for difficult assignments and devoted himself to safeguarding China's maritime defence.

The second pilot, Shi Shaoyong , 25, was a first lieutenant in the PLA Navy. According to local reports and an inscription on his tombstone, Shi died during a night flight training mission on the same date, June 10. He served in Unit 91911 , also under the Southern Theatre Command Naval Aviation division, and had volunteered to work on the South China Sea frontline after graduating.

Shi, who enlisted in 2019 and had been awarded a third-class merit , was also recognised as a "martyr" at his memorial service.

No official information has been released regarding the type of aircraft involved. Previous reports suggest that Unit 91911 operates helicopters.