Tragedy in Taiwan: Dozens killed after plane crash (pics+vid)
Leaders of China and Taiwan expressed their condolences for the 48 victims ofTransAsia Airways passenger plane crash, on Tuesday yesterday,while trying to make an emergency landing in typhoon-hite Taiwan.
TransAsia Airways flight GE222 was carrying 58 people - 55 passengers and 4 crew members - when it crashed into houses near Magong airport on the Penghu island chain, after requesting a second attempt to land there, local media reported on Wednesday.
According to the Central News Asia and other media of the country, the plane making the domestic flight GE222 in Taiwan, crashed on one of the Penghu islands, off the country, which were hit by a hurricane in recent days. The aircraft crashed near the airport where it was trying to land, according to the Civil Aviation Authority.
The aircraft had taken off from the international airport Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan and was suppose to arrive at the airport Mahjong of the Penghu islands. According to Minister of Transport and Communications, Ye Kwang-si, 47 people were killed and 11 survived but suffered injuries. "We are still trying to ascertain the situation" he told reporters in Taipei. He added that he would be visiting Penghu with a team of researchers of aviation accidents.
Earlier, Jing Shen, director of civil aviation in Taiwan, stated that there is "chaos at the point", where the aircraft crashed, speaking to Reuters news agency. "The fire department tries to extinguish the flames. They will report the final number of victims very soon" she added. Aboard the aircraft were 54 passengers and 4 crew members. The causes of the accident aren't.
According to information the pilots experienced problems due to strong winds blowing in the area. The hurricane currently hurting Taiwan is accompanied with heavy rains and strong winds, while authorities ordered schools and other buildings to remain closed. The TransAsia Airways based in Taiwan, usually makes domestic flights and some international in Japan, Thailand and Cambodia, among other destinations in Asia, and has a fleet of 23 aircraft, mostly Airbus.
Reports state that the first attempt for landing by the pilot failed, but before he requested another attempt from the control tower, he lost contact with air traffic control.
"We have found 42 bodies and some body parts so far," an official surnamed Tsai at the Penghu county fire department told AFP news agency early on Thursday.
Ten survivors were immediatelly transferred to hospitals and according to latest information they are in safe health condition
For the moment, the causes of the crash have not been specified.
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