Taipei, June 2: Two Taiwan Air Force pilots were killed on Tuesday after a military training aircraft crashed during a routine training exercise at Gangshan Air Base in southern Taiwan, according to local media reports.
The Taiwan Air Force said the US-made T-34C Mentor trainer aircraft was being flown by Lieutenant Colonels Lu Chi-yu and Kuo Chun-nan on a simulated engine-failure training mission when it crashed near the northern end of the runway at approximately 8:08 a.m. local time in Kaohsiung.
Both pilots died in the accident.Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the two officers and extended condolences to their families. He announced the formation of a special task force to investigate the cause of the crash and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“I’m deeply saddened by this sudden tragedy. On behalf of the country, I thank the two pilots for their service and sacrifice and extend my deepest condolences to their families,” Lai told reporters in Taipei.
Premier Cho Jung-tai also ordered a comprehensive review of the aircraft’s mechanical condition, training procedures and safety protocols to ensure the safety of future military exercises.
According to the Air Force, Lt. Col. Kuo, 46, graduated from the Republic of China Air Force Academy in 2004 and had accumulated more than 2,170 flight hours on the T-34 aircraft. Lt. Col. Lu, 41, a graduate of the academy’s 2008 class, had logged over 2,110 flight hours. Both officers were married, and Lu is survived by his wife and two children.
The T-34C Mentor is used as the primary training aircraft for Air Force cadets before they progress to advanced jet trainers and operational combat aircraft.The crash has renewed attention on aviation safety in Taiwan, which has witnessed several major air accidents over the years.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to Tuesday’s tragedy.