Three pilots were onboard the TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 that crashed into the Keelung river shortly after take-off from Taipei Songshan airport on 4 February.
Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration’s director general Lin Tyh-Ming disclosed the information at a press conference in Taipei.
The pilot flying had accumulated 4,914 flight hours and his co-pilot, 6,922 flight hours, says Lin. There was also a third pilot in the jump seat with over 16,000 flight hours of experience.
Lin adds that the aircraft last underwent scheduled maintenance on 26 January, and that the weather on the morning of the crash was “okay”.
He also confirms that at least two people on board have died. There were 53 passengers and five crew members on board.
When pressed on the cause of the crash, Lin would only say that further investigation needs to be carried out.
When contacted, TransAsia would only confirm the crash of flight GE235 which was on the Taipei Songshan-Kinmen route.
Amateur footage on social media show the last moments of the turboprop before it plunged into the river. The ATR entered the frame with its left wing nearly perpendicular to the highway before plunging out of the frame.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
