Two Taiwanese military pilots were killed after a training aircraft crashed during an exercise simulating an engine failure, according to the Ministry of National Defense in Taiwan.
The accident occurred at nearly 8:08 a.m. on Tuesday when a T-34 military training aircraft crashed on the runway of Gangshan Air Base in the southern city of Kaohsiung.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of the two pilots, describing them as heroes and praising their dedication and service to Taiwan.
The Taiwanese Air Force has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Authorities identified the victims only by their surnames, Lo and Kuo, and confirmed that both held the rank of lieutenant colonel.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, the Air Force uses single-engine Beechcraft T-34 aircraft as primary training platforms. Taiwan first introduced the aircraft into service in 1984.
The incident adds to a series of military aviation accidents in Taiwan. In January, an F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed into the sea off the island’s eastern coast during a routine training mission. The pilot was believed to have ejected, but search teams have yet to recover the body.
The latest crash is expected to intensify scrutiny of military flight safety and training procedures as Taiwan continues efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities amid growing regional security challenges.
Follow the latest news on Google News
