One of China's first female fighter pilots has died when her plane crashed during an air force training exercise.
Yu Xu, 30, was taking part in routine flight drills near the city of Tangshan in the northern province of Hebei, and was unable to eject from her plane before it made impact with the ground, Chinese official press reported.
Her co-pilot was able to eject in time using a parachute, but suffered injuries and was hospitalised.
Both pilots were part of the Bayi Aerobatics Team of the People's Liberation Army Air Force.
Yu applied to join the Air Force in 2005 and four years later became one of the first 16 women of the country to become fighter pilots, according to state-owned Xinhua agency.
