Washington - President Bush gave a White House welcome yesterday to the crew of the US spy plane at the centre of a stand-off with China last month and said progress had been made in recovering their aircraft. "I am thrilled to be able to look you in the eye and say thanks for your service to the country," he told the 24 men and women.
The navy EP-3 surveillance aircraft collided with a Chinese jet fighter on April 1st and made an emergency landing on Hainan Island. The crew came home after 11 days.