美国中央司令部6月22日称，美国空军一架U-2侦察机在返回位于阿拉伯联合酋长国的基地途中坠毁，随机飞行员身亡。外电报道如下：A U.S. Air Force U-2 spy plane involved in a mission in Afghanistan crashed while returning to its base in the United Arab Emirates, killing the pilot, the military said Wednesday.

U.S. Central Command said the crash occurred in "southwest Asia," a term that can be a substitute for the Middle East.

"The Airmen of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing mourn the loss of a true American hero in the service of his country," said Col. Darryl Burke, the unit's wing commander.

The wing has been based at the al-Dhafra air base near Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, since early 2002. The wing flies various types of aircraft, including aerial refueling tankers. It was visited in August by Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Crash表示“碰撞，坠落，坠毁”，例如：Their car crashed into a guardrail.（他们的车撞上护栏。）The airplane crashed over the ocean.（飞机在海洋上坠毁。）作为形容词，crash还表示“应急的，快速的”，例如：a crash program（应急措施）。

据悉：U-2高空侦察机绰号“黑寡妇”，可在七万英尺的高空飞行、照相、使用雷达侦察及截听通讯。1960年，一架U-2在原苏联境内被击落，飞行员侥幸逃生后被原苏联抓住并被判入狱。这起事件导致美国和原苏联关系一度紧张。