Plane crashes into river in Taiwan
Plane crashes into river in Taiwan
Rescue teams work to free people from a TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 turboprop airplane that crashed into the Keelung River shortly after takeoff from Taipei Songshan airport on February 4, 2015 in Taipei, Taiwan. Over 50 people were onboard the aircraft when it clipped a bridge and crashed into the river. At least two deaths have been reported. (Ashley Pon/Getty Images)
Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration said 25 people were confirmed dead, 16 were injured and 17 were still missing. Thirty-one of the 58 on board were reported to be from China.
A flameout is when the fuel supply to the engine is interrupted or there are combustion problems which result in engine failure.
Twin-engined planes, however, are usually able to fly on one engine.
Meanwhile, 28 passengers appear to have had a miraculous escape, with
Wu Jun-hong of Taipei's Fire Department telling reporters that children
were among those rescued.He said: "There are adults taking care of toddlers. They are safe.
"Children were rescued from the plane already. We get them out from the river using the boat."
Television footage showed survivors wearing life jackets wading and swimming clear of the wreckage, which was surrounded by rubber boats.
Others, including a young child, were taken to safety by rescuers, who could also be seen pulling carry-on luggage from an open door.
Relatives of the victims have not yet reached the scene but some are expected to arrive on Thursday, including many flying from Beijing.
The 72-seat plane - an ATR 72-600 - was received by TransAsia last year and is one of the most popular turboprop planes in the world.
The pilot had 4,916 hours of flying experience and the co-pilot had 6,922 hours, according to the head of Taiwan's civil aviation authority Lin Tyh-ming. The aircraft last underwent maintenance on 26 January, he added.
With that record in mind, investigators into the crash are likely to focus on cockpit procedures and maintenance at the airline, said Greg Waldron, Asia managing editor at Flightglobal.
He added: "Coming so soon after July's crash, the airline could come under intense scrutiny by regulators, not to mention the impact this will have on public perceptions of the carrier."
Other possible factors include pilot error, weather or freak incidents such as bird strikes.
The Civil Aeronautics Administration said it will not comment until an investigation into the crash is completed.
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