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Taiwan navy helicopter makes hard landing, injuring four crew members
- Initial investigation shows the S-70C’s tail malfunctioned, navy spokesman says
- This is the fifth major accident involving the island’s military in 2022
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A Taiwanese anti-submarine helicopter was forced to make a hard landing at a naval base in Zuoying, southern Taiwan, on Wednesday afternoon, injuring four crew members on board, in the fifth major accident to befall the island’s military this year.
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The Sikorsky S-70C helicopter, which belonged to the navy’s anti-submarine aviation squadron, was performing a test flight mission when the accident took place, the navy command said in a statement.
“The accident caused the injuries of the pilot, co-pilot, a head mechanic officer and an inspector,” the command said, adding all four were rushed to a nearby military hospital for treatment.
The navy ordered the suspension of all S-70C flight missions and for the helicopters to be grounded until they had undergone safety inspection and maintenance, according to the command.
A navy spokesman said an initial investigation showed the tail of the helicopter failed to function properly during landing.
Part of the helicopter was on fire but there was no explosion, the officer said, adding the crew members did not have life-threatening injuries.
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Taiwan’s Presidential Office, however, said some injured crew members suffered burns and the head mechanic was in serious condition.
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