Taiwan says 2 dead in military training plane crash

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TAIPEI: A Taiwanese military training aircraft crashed on Tuesday, June 2, during a simulated engine failure exercise, killing both pilots on board.

The defence ministry confirmed the incident occurred at 8:08 AM at the northern end of the runway at Gangshan Air Base, located in the southern port city of Kaohsiung.

The two deceased flight crew members have been identified by their military ranks and surnames as Lieutenant Colonel Lu and Lieutenant Colonel Guo.

Following the fatal accident, the Air Force immediately established a dedicated task force to investigate the cause of the crash, though a spokesperson declined to provide further operational details.

The downed T-34 aircraft belongs to a fleet of Beechcraft single-engine propeller planes, which have served as the primary trainer aircraft for incoming Taiwanese military aviators since they were first delivered back in 1984.

This incident follows a separate training accident in January, where an F-16 fighter jet crashed into the sea off eastern Taiwan.

Expressing national grief, President Lai Ching-te stated that he was deeply saddened by the loss of life. He described the fallen crew members as heroic and explicitly thanked them for their sacrifice and dedication to Taiwan

Photo Credits: Representative Image | AFP