Taiwanese airforce accident, 1 pilot killed, 1 MIA

[StreetFight3r]

TAIPEI: A Taiwanese air force pilot was killed and another was missing on Monday (Mar 22) after their fighter jets disappeared in a suspected mid-air collision off the island's southern coast, officials said.

The two F-5E jets disappeared from radar around 3pm (0700 GMT) around 2.6km off the coast of rural Pingtung county, the National Rescue Command Centre said.

They were among four F-5Es that took off around 30 minutes earlier for a routine training mission, the centre said, adding helicopters and coastguard ships had joined the search.

One of the pilots was found unconscious in the sea but could not be resuscitated and was pronounced dead at hospital.

Rescuers were still searching for the remaining pilot. Police confirmed they found a seat with parachute attached on a local highway.

The apparent collision was the third such incident in the past half year, at a time when the Beijing-claimed island's armed forced are under increasing pressure to intercept Chinese aircraft on an almost daily basis.

While Taiwan's air force is well-trained and well-equipped, mostly with US-made equipment, it is dwarfed by China's. Beijing views the democratic island as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under Chinese control.

The official Central News Agency said the air force had now grounded the F-5 fleet that operates from the Chihhang air base, where the aircraft are based.

The US-built F-5 fighters first entered service in Taiwan in the late 1970s and have been mostly been retired from front-line activities, though some are still used for training and as a back-up for the main fleet.

Another F-5 crashed in October, killing the pilot. The following month a much more modern F-16 crashed off Taiwan's east coast, whose pilot also died.

In January of last year, Taiwan's top military official was among eight people killed after a helicopter carrying them to visit soldiers crashed in a mountainous area near the capital Taipei.

The incidents have raised concern about both training and maintenance, but also the pressure the air force is under to respond to repeated Chinese flights near the island.

Taiwan's Defence Ministry has warned Chinese aircraft, including drones, are flying repeatedly in Taiwan's air defence identification zone, seeking to wear out Taiwan's air force.

[StreetFight3r]

Image for illustration 

[Windwaver]

Don't dare to fly China Airlines after a bad personal experience.

 

[Watwheels]

This is akin to using your grandfather's car to train you to drive.

[ToyotaShuttle]

1 hour ago, Windwaver said:

Don't dare to fly China Airlines after a bad personal experience.

 

What was your exp?

But yes, I think China Airlines has an extremely poor safety record. Just need to google and I also don't dare take them. 

Not to be confused with Air China.

[Kb27]

F5 very old plane already. I think Sg retired all of them.

[Jman888]

what are the chances of mid air collision?

[Thaiyotakamli]

4 hours ago, Windwaver said:

Don't dare to fly China Airlines after a bad personal experience.

 

Me good experience with china airlines, flow with them more than 10x. Good cabin crew, decent plane and good pricing although the A330 in flight entertainment screen too small as they nvr upgrade since my first flight 13-14 yrs ago with them
 

care to share ur personal experience? 

[Thaiyotakamli]

1 hour ago, Kb27 said:

F5 very old plane already. I think Sg retired all of them.

Most advanced countries ald retired those plane only developing nations still uses them. Surprised that taiwan still use them maybe to make up the number and also usa nvr grant new sale of fighter jet until recent deal granted. 
 

taiwan also not capable in building own domestic fighter jet. They got ching kuo but very poor. How to fight china, think within 1-2 days taiwanese airforce will be wiped out. 

[Maxus-MIFA9]

8 hours ago, Jman888 said:

what are the chances of mid air collision?

Just like striking Singapore Big Sweep $2.3m draw.

One in 4 million chances .....

[Adrianli]

8 hours ago, Jman888 said:

what are the chances of mid air collision?

If you are doing formation flying which military aircraft usually does it to evade radar, chances very high.

If they fly in a single line, foe will only see 1 aircraft from a forward facing radar. But in fact, there are 3 or 4 of them. Its a sort of tactical flying. It requires constant training to get to that sort of flying.

[Adrianli]

7 hours ago, Thaiyotakamli said:

Most advanced countries ald retired those plane only developing nations still uses them. Surprised that taiwan still use them maybe to make up the number and also usa nvr grant new sale of fighter jet until recent deal granted. 
 

taiwan also not capable in building own domestic fighter jet. They got ching kuo but very poor. How to fight china, think within 1-2 days taiwanese airforce will be wiped out. 

Big brother is within short reach only, the great pacific fleet. Thatz why they are stationed in Japan and Philippines. With a slightly further Guam base.

[inlinesix]

4 minutes ago, Adrianli said:

Big brother is within short reach only, the great pacific fleet. Thatz why they are stationed in Japan and Philippines. With a slightly further Guam base.

Those F5 i think it is training plane.

Current F16 Block 20 is being upgraded to Block 70 electronic.

Block 70 electronic includes networking.

[Adrianli]

3 minutes ago, inlinesix said:

Those F5 i think it is training plane.

Current F16 Block 20 is being upgraded to Block 70 electronic.

Block 70 electronic includes networking.

Yup. So they were most likely training on such tactical flying maneuvers.

[inlinesix]

1 minute ago, Adrianli said:

Yup. So they were most likely training on such tactical flying maneuvers.

No choice has to train on such an old plane in order not to provoke PLA.

[Thaiyotakamli]

1 hour ago, Adrianli said:

Big brother is within short reach only, the great pacific fleet. Thatz why they are stationed in Japan and Philippines. With a slightly further Guam base.

Yes but in pre emptive attack taiwan will be at disadvantage. Yes theres 7th fleet but 7th fleet strength about similar as china strength unless usa combined all their fleet to asia pacific to counter china together with allies fleet then got chance to fight back. By then it will take weeks to months to reach taiwan

[Thaiyotakamli]

1 hour ago, inlinesix said:

No choice has to train on such an old plane in order not to provoke PLA.

Don’t get it at the provoke part. Anyway F5 is about to phased out whats the point training those pilots? And noticed taiwan also have other trainers jet like f16 and ching kuo. 
 

its quite sad to see 3 death of young pilot less than 10 months due to aging flight. Surprisingly this is the third accident recently although F5 has good safety record for past 23 yrs in taiwan. 
 

tvbs experts said that in 1990s this F5 is considered as flying coffin ald

[Thaiyotakamli]

1 hour ago, inlinesix said:

Those F5 i think it is training plane.

Current F16 Block 20 is being upgraded to Block 70 electronic.

Block 70 electronic includes networking.

Yes and they also buying new F16V jets which is meant to replace the aging F5