A devastating event occurred at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taiwan on Tuesday, resulting in the death of a Taiwanese Air Force officer. The master sergeant was performing a pre-shutdown inspection of a fighter jet when he was tragically pulled into the aircraft’s engine. Despite immediate attempts to save his life, the officer was later declared dead.
The Taiwanese Air Force confirmed the incident, noting that the officer was inexplicably drawn into the engine. A task force, working in conjunction with prosecutors, is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Air Force Command has responded to media speculation suggesting that an instructor’s throttle application may have contributed to the accident, emphasizing that the investigation is still underway.
The loss of the officer has deeply impacted the Air Force, with officials expressing their profound sorrow over the incident. The Air Force has vowed to provide full support to the officer’s family as they navigate the aftermath of this tragedy. Furthermore, they have committed to conducting a thorough review of their operational procedures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
The aircraft involved in the incident was an Indigenous Defense Fighter, as reported by the Taipei Times. The officer, a veteran of the military for nearly 17 years, was an experienced member of the force.
An individual with knowledge of the aircraft told the Taipei Times that the chances of a ground crew member being sucked into the engine, which has a relatively small intake opening, are extremely low. The source further clarified that the plane’s engine speed is typically slow after landing and should have been stopped by the time the wheel chocks were being deployed at the base.
Security cameras installed in the base’s hangar are expected to provide a clearer understanding of the incident. The footage will be crucial in the ongoing investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to the tragic accident.