Chinese Jets Intercept U.S. Navy Plane

April 1 -- An American intelligence aircraft was intercepted over the South China Sea and involved in a midair collision that has left one Chinese pilot missing and relations between China and the U.S. tense.

United States military officials are demanding the immediate return of the American plane whose mission was to gather radar frequencies and radio traffic from China's air defense.

China immediately blamed the U.S. aircraft for the collision off Hainan Island. But the commander of U.S. Pacific military forces said that the slower U.S. plane was morelikely to have been hit by the nimble Chinese fighter.

"Under International Airspace rules, the fast more maneuverable aircraft [the Chinese jets] has the obligation to stay out of the way of the slower aircraft," said Admiral Dennis Blair, in charge of U.S. Pacific Military Forces. "Our aircraft fly routinely straight and level. It's pretty obvious as to who bumped into whom."

Emergency Landing on Hainan Island

A Navy surveillance plane, carrying a 24-member crew, made an emergency landing on Hainan Island without any apparent injuries to the crew, U.S. officials said.

The surveillance plane collided with Chinese fighter jets at about 9:15 a.m. local time today, which is 8:15 p.m. ET Saturday. The fighter jets were sent to intercept the American plane. The Chinesegovernment said at least one of its fighter jets crashed and its pilot was missing.

China officials said the American plane veered andthat its nose and left wing hit the Chinese plane. After initial speculation that the mid-air bump was intentional, U.S. officials said they believed the collision was an accident.

A search was on for China's downed plane and its crew.

The U.S. ambassador to China, Adm. Joseph Prueher told reporters that all 24 military personnel on the aircraft are safe. U.S. diplomats plan to visit China tomorrow. As of Sunday evening there was still no word about the return of the crew and their EP-3 surveillance plane filled withclassified electronic eavesdropping equipment.