Originally Posted by
Don Henley
Another interesting incident occurred back in the spring of 2001 when a U.S Navy surveillance plane collided in mid-air with a communist Chinese fighter jet. A Chinese pilot was killed and the U.S. spy plane had to make an emergency landing on the Chinese-controlled island of Hainan in the South China Sea. The 24 crew members were captured and interrogated by the Chinese authorities until the U.S. government issued a letter of apology. During the 11 days of their detainment, the crew gradually developed good relations with their guards, with one guard asking them for the lyrics to "Hotel California".