President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was unharmed after his plane landed with two flat tires in Taichung on Sunday, the Presidential Office said. Smoke and flames had burst from the tires as the Fokker 50 taxied on the runway.
Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) said the incident occurred at about 1:30pm on Sunday after the plane carrying Ma and his entourage taxied at Cingcyuangang (清泉崗) Air Force Base in Taichung.
The crew discovered two tires on the right side of the plane were flat before they caught fire, Wang said.
The president’s chief security guard escorted Ma off the plane and drove him away from the scene, while Ma’s deputy chief and entourage followed in another car, Wang said.
A fire truck was called to put out the fire and clean up the scene, he said.
Wang said the security detail dealt with the matter in a speedy and efficient manner. Ma remained calm during the process and eased the nerves of others, he said.
Officials say Ma uses the smaller Fokker 50 for certain trips to save money on fuel.
When asked whether Ma would take Fokker 50 flights in the future, Wang said it would depend on the nature of his activities, but that the president would not rule out flying on the planes.
Ma believed that he should not spend money unless it was absolutely necessary, but that he did not need to save money if it was necessary to spend it, Wang said.
Three Fokkers are used by the president, he said.
Speaking to reporters’ in Taichung yesterday, Ma said he was fine and humorously added that he was “calm in the face of disaster.”
Vice Minister of National Defense Chao Shih-chang (趙世璋) said the ministry would carry out a general overhaul of its Fokker 50 VIP transport planes.
He said an initial check showed that the problem was caused by overheating brake rotors and not because the plane was outdated.
The military has asked government-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corp to assess the problem and said it would carry out a comprehensive overhaul of personnel, maintenance and equipment to ensure the safety of the aircraft, Chao said.
Before the plane took off, it was thoroughly checked and passed all tests, Chao said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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