I just read this blurb off the AP wire
– apparently a U2 spy plane was shot down over an unspecified Asian
country, which is still secret due to “host nation sensitivities.� You
may remember a U2 shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960 caused quite the diplomatic flap.

U.S. Spy Plane Crashes in Southwest Asia

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: June 22, 2005
Filed at 8:16 a.m. ET

BAGHDAD,
Iraq (AP) – A U.S. Air Force U-2 spy plane has crashed in southwest
Asia, the U.S. military announced Wednesday, and one official said the
location has not been released because ‘’host nation sensitivities’’
are involved.

The cause of the crash and the pilot’s status
were not known, U.S. Central Command said in a brief written statement.
The crash happened Tuesday night at 2330 GMT.

The Central Command’s statement used the term southwest Asia, which can be used as a substitute for describing the Middle East.

‘’The
specific location is not releasable due to host nation sensitivities,Չ۪
U.S. Air Force Capt. David W. Small, a Central Command spokesman, said
in an e-mailed response to a query for more information.

Small said he expected that the military would release more information shortly.

Update: It crashed in the United Arab Emirates, and the pilot was killed.

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