Two People's Liberation Army naval pilots, including a senior tactical commander, were killed during frontline flight training exercises in June, according to official regional government notices and local media reports.
The fatalities, which occurred on June 10, involve a colonel and a first lieutenant from the theatre command facing the South China Sea.
Such disclosures are rare for the Chinese military, which typically keeps details of training accidents closely guarded.
The deaths come amid heightened military activity in the region.
Chinese state media recently accused Japanese warplanes and ships of conducting surveillance operations and "provocations" during the deployment of the Liaoning aircraft carrier group to the western Pacific.
The incident underscores the operational tempo and risks associated with the PLA's ongoing modernization and readiness drills in contested waters.