News reports said a small aircraft that crashed in northeast China may have been a North Korean fighter jet.

Beijing's official Xinhua news agency said the aircraft went down Tuesday in Fushun County, located in Liaoning province. An unnamed government source told Xinhua the jet "might be" a North Korean plane. Xinhua did not identify the pilot or the aircraft.

Fatal Aircrash in China May Have Been North Korean Craft

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said intelligence sources believe the aircraft appeared to be a Soviet-era jet fighter, after earlier reporting said it may have been a helicopter. The anonymous sources said the pilot could have lost his way while flying to Russia.

Fatal Aircrash in China May Have Been North Korean Craft

Yonhap said the pilot, who was the only person on board the aircraft, was killed.

Fatal Aircrash in China May Have Been North Korean Craft

Fushun is located about 150 kilometers from the North Korean city of Sinuiju, where a military airbase is located.