China has allowed blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng to leave a hospital in Beijing for the United States.
Mr Chen won plaudits for investigating rights abuses including forced sterilisations and late-term abortions under the country's "one-child" family planning policy, but also served a jail term.
One of China's best-known activists, he is expected to study law at New York University.
He was given short notice earlier today to pack up and leave the hospital where he had been waiting for more than two weeks for permission to depart from China.
Once at the airport, Mr Chen told a friend that he had finally received the passports for himself and his family that would enable them to depart.
The US is "looking forward" to Chen's arrival, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said, expressing "appreciation for the manner in which we were able to resolve this matter and to support Mr Chen's desire to study in the US and pursue his goals."
The United Airlines flight was due to arrive at Newark Airport at around 10.13pm Irish time.
The 40-year-old had been at the Beijing hospital since he left the US embassy in the Chinese capital, where he had sought refuge for several days.
The self-taught legal activist had made his way to the US mission after a dramatic escape from his home in east China, where he had been under house arrest.
