A passenger plane was forced to turn immediately when an alleged Chinese ballistic missile was launched from a submarine and narrowly missed hitting the jet.
Footage posted to Facebook by Allegiant pilot John Carter appears to show the pilot’s view from the cockpit as a missile launched from the sea and flying through clouds, leaving a long trail in the sky.
The pilots can be heard chatting while watching the missile hover.
John said the video was sent by his friend who claimed to work for a foreign airline and they were flying over Sanya in the South China Sea.
He wrote: “They got a last minute hectic call from air traffic control – ‘turn left 90 degrees immediately’.
“To their surprise, they spotted a sea-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) emerging from the sea below their intended course!”
John suspected it could be a People’s Liberation Army Navy missile submarine launch with “very little regard” for commercial air traffic in the area.
He added that the pilots were aboard a transoceanic Boeing 777.
(Image: TAUT via Getty Images)
The video was also shared by submarine expert HI Sutton who said the footage “seemed believable at a cursory glance”.
It is understood that no Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was sent to warn aircraft that a missile launch was planned, suggesting the test may have been intended to be carried out in secret.
China The Hainan Maritime Security Administration issued a public notice on Thursday, May 19, announcing that military officials will conduct five-day military training exercises until Monday, May 23.
(Photo: TAUT/Getty Images)
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They closed an area of ​​about 100 square kilometers to maritime traffic and banned all entry.
Viewers were stunned, with one saying, “Wow, total disregard for life!”
Another suggested: “Maybe launch a very small satellite for observation… lately China has come up with some big new technology.”
“It could have been a very bad situation!” a third added.
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