Small TransAsia airplane crashes in Taipei

02/04/2015 11:37 AM

(Photo courtesy of the New Taipei City Fire Department)

Update:●Latest on CAA website (in Chinese)(Note: The Civil Aeronautics Administration updated the number of deaths to 43 at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, after the last body was found)

Feb. 13●Pilots union slams post-crash examinations as missing the point

Feb. 12●TransAsia to cancel more flights Friday due to pilot shortage●Last TransAsia crash victim found: CAA

[Searches move to around the Nanhu Bridge on Thursday]

Feb. 11●One in five TransAsia pilots tested after crash fail exam: CAA●Two more bodies found in TransAsia crash: CAA●TransAsia offers NT$14.9 million per family of deceased passengers

[A search worker throws ghost money into the Keelung River Wednesday before an excavator was deployed to look for people remaining missing in the Feb. 4 crash. CNA photo Feb. 10, 2015]

Feb. 10●Taiwan expecting U.S. personnel to join air crash probe: ASC official●President mourns air crash victims at public funeral service●Flags flown at half-mast to mourn air crash victims

[The search team memebrs use iron bars to help search the three people remaining missing Tuesday. CNA photo Feb. 10, 2015]

[The Presidential Office. CNA photo Feb. 10, 2015]

Feb. 9●Taiwan pilots union bashes regulator's response to fatal air crash●Chinese investigators arrive in Taiwan for air crash probe●Crash may affect TransAsia's planned flight extension to Guam●Flags to fly at half-mast to mourn air crash victims

[A religious service is held to console the souls of the dead in Taipei Monday evening. CNA photo Feb. 9, 2015]

Feb. 8●TransAsia to cancel 32 domestic flights on Feb. 10●No discussions yet on compensation: TransAsia●Three missing in TransAsia crash as search continues

Feb. 7[Sunday]

●TransAsia to hold memorial services for victims of air crash●Crash affects recruiting at TransAsia's budget airline●More bodies found near crash site as search continues●TransAsia's ATR pilots face tests after crash

Saturday's newspaper front pages:

[Searches are focused around the area in the Keelung River, where the aircraft was stuck in the mud after the crash, on Saturday.]

Feb. 6●Engine of ill-fated TransAsia flight cut off after the other fails●TransAsia's ATR72s have engine problem 5 times in 5 years●Timeline of voice recorder of TransAsia Airways flight GE235●Both engines of ill-fated plane failed before crash: official

Video report:

●TransAsia crash expected to have limited affect on Taiwan tourism●Search teams at plane crash site facing tough challenges●Four more bodies found in TransAsia crash, death toll to 35

Friday's newspaper front pages:

A Taipei Fire Department offical explains how the search for missing passengers has been expanded to cover more areas (in Chinese).

Feb. 5●Taiwan official says Beijing role in crash probe is legal●Servicemen, M3 rigs continue to seek survivors of Taipei plane crash●Condolences flow into Taiwan in wake of fatal plane crash●Taipei officials at crash scene panned over messaging activities●Taxi driver in plane crash video literally did not know what hit him

Video report:

●TransAsia crash takes heavy toll on Chinese tourist groups●U.S., Canada express condolences over deadly plane crash in Taipei●TransAsia Airways shares extend losses, but downturn capped●Chinese authorities to take part in TranAsia crash investigation●Family of three survived TransAsia plane crash in lucky escape●TransAsia air crash leaves 31 dead, 15 injured, 12 unaccounted for

Searches continue Thursday morning:

Thursday's newspaper front pages:

Feb. 4●Crash is 4th deadly air incident for TransAsia in 20 years●Pilot of ill-fated plane calls out 'mayday' before crash●Taiwan shares push higher, but TransAsia stock hurt by crash●Chinese tourists move itinerary ahead only to run into crash

●CAA demands all ATR planes grounded for checks●Aircraft manufacturer 'aware of' TransAsia crash●DPP, KMT offer condolences over Taipei air crash

Taipei, Feb. 4 (CNA) An ATR-72 airplane belonging to TransAsia Airways crashed into the Keelung River in Taipei after hitting an elevated bridge, Taipei City government spokesman Sidney Lin confirmed Wednesday morning.

The plane had just taken off from Taipei Songshan Airport and was headed to Kinmen Airport in the outlying county just off the coast of southeastern China.

[Taipei City traffic cam shows the crashed jet in the Keelung River]

Initial cable TV news reports said 53 passengers were on board of the ill-fated flight.

The Taipei fire department has sent vehicles and speedboats to the scene to help with rescue efforts.

TV news reports said around a dozen people on the plane were rescued and sent to a nearby hospital and another 10 or so were still trapped in the aircraft.

(By Flor Wang)enditem/ls

The aircraft is lifted out of the river