U.S. team: Crippled spy plane is reparable

The damaged plane is still on the tarmac in Hainan

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- After inspecting the damaged EP-3E surveilllance plane held by China, a team of U.S. civilian experts has concluded the aircraft could be repaired and flown off Hainan Island, Pentagon sources told CNN on Friday.

The group is now preparing to return to the United States, the Pentagon said.

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On Thursday, Chinese officials at the Lingshui military base on the island had balked at a request to provide electricity so the experts from Lockheed-Martin could power up the plane's systems, but officials said the power was provided Friday.

"All required inspections were completed," a Pentagon official said. "They did everything they needed to do."

The team was expected to leave China on Saturday and fly to Hawaii to prepare their assessment on the best way to bring the plane back, once China releases it.

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Chinese Foreign Ministry
U.S. Embassy of the People's Republic of China
U.S. Navy factfile: The EP-3
U.S. Dept of Defense
White House

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