The Rest Is Classified takes you into the mysterious world of spies and espionage. Hosted by former CIA analyst now turned spy novelist, David McCloskey, and veteran security correspondent, Gordon Corera, they’ve experienced this field first-hand. It’s a world of shadows, shrouded in secrecy, but it affects every one of us. It’s time to bring it into the light.
Curated by: The Rest Is Classified (200 videos)
Did China deliberately crash a US spy plane? What American secrets were hidden onboard? And how close did the collision come to triggering a war? In April 2001, a Chinese fighter jet collided with a US Navy EP-3 surveillance plane over the South China Sea, killing the Chinese pilot and forcing 24 American crew members to make an emergency landing on Hainan Island. What followed was a major international crisis. The US aircrew were detained, China gained access to a plane packed with highly classified intelligence equipment, and the new George W. Bush administration faced its first serious foreign-policy test. In this episode of The Rest Is Classified, Gordon Corera and David McCloskey reveal the extraordinary story of the Hainan Island incident: the dramatic mid-air collision, the desperate attempt to destroy American secrets, the interrogation of the crew and the diplomatic battle that prevented the crisis from escalating into war. Gordon and David also explore what the incident can teach us about the dangers facing the world today, as Chinese, Russian and NATO aircraft continue to fly dangerously close to one another... Could one mistake in the skies still trigger a global conflict? Listen to The Rest Is Classified wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the full episode on YouTube. 00:00 What Happens When Spy Planes Collide? 02:12 Ad – HP 03:25 The Battle for the South China Sea 05:12 Inside America’s EP-3 Spy Plane 07:29 Rising Tensions Between China and the US 12:03 The Chinese Pilot Sent to Intercept 15:04 A Dangerously Close Encounter 16:32 The Fighter Jet Hits the Spy Plane 17:33 Falling Upside Down Towards the Ocean 20:22 Land in China or Crash and Die 22:10 Destroying America’s Secret Spy Equipment 26:44 China Considers Shooting Down the Plane 27:47 The Emergency Landing on Hainan Island 28:49 Surrounded by Armed Chinese Soldiers 31:40 News of the Crisis Reaches Beijing 34:09 Who Was Responsible for the Collision? 38:26 George W. Bush Faces His First Major Crisis 40:02 China Seizes America’s Spy Plane 43:01 The US Crew Are Interrogated 47:51 The Search for Wang Wei 49:07 Anger and Nationalism Spread Across China 50:25 China Demands an American Apology 53:04 The Diplomatic “Letter of Two Sorries” 55:07 The Hostages Are Finally Released 56:03 What Secrets Did China Steal? 57:06 Could the Same Crisis Happen Today? 59:01 Would China De-escalate in 2026? 01:01:49 Russian Jets Versus NATO Spy Planes 01:03:24 Russia Nearly Shoots Down a British Plane 01:05:09 How Previous Crises Avoided War 01:06:11 Could Russia Deliberately Provoke NATO? 01:07:10 The Lessons of the Hainan Incident ----------------- ➡️ Join the Declassified Club to go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community. Just go to https://therestisclassified.com 🔓 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 🗞️ Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign-up ------------------ Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED for more information. T&C's apply. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ✅ Subscribe Here: https://www.youtube.com/@restisclassifiedsub_confirmation=1 🎙️ Listen To The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/triclassified -------------------------------------- 📱 Follow Us On Socials: Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567680193497 Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/restisclassified/?hl=en TikTok: / https://www.tiktok.com/@restisclassified Twitter: / https://x.com/triclassified -------------------------------------- 📩 Email: classified@goalhanger.com -------------------------------------- Video Editor: Joe Pettit Social Producer: Emma Jackson Producer: Becki Hills Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor