Taiwanese military helicopter crashes, killing two pilots
- US-made OH-58D aircraft crash-lands after pilot reports ‘excessively low rotor speed’ just minutes after taking off, head of 601st Aviation Brigade says
- Aircraft had earlier been involved in island’s annual Han Kuang war games
Two pilots of a Taiwanese military helicopter were killed on Thursday when their aircraft crash-landed at an air force base in the north of the island.
The OH-58D helicopter was on its way home after taking part in the annual Han Kuang military exercise when it crashed at the base in Hsinchu and caught fire, according to official reports.
“The OH-58D observation and reconnaissance aircraft, which belonged to the army’s 601st Aviation Brigade, returned from a drill in the third operation zone and crash-landed at the Hsinchu air force base for reasons unknown,” the defence ministry said in a statement.
“Chief pilot Major Chien Jen-chuan and co-pilot Captain Kao Chia-lung were rushed to hospital for treatment but died from their injuries,” it said.
