The air force yesterday said it was investigating the accidental firing of a flare from one of its Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) jets, also known as the AIDC F-CK-1 Ching Kuo, on Wednesday.
There were no injuries or damages, and an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident, the air force said.
The flares, usually used to protect jets against incoming guided missiles, were released in flight, sources said.
Photo: Taipei Times
Over the past few years, there have been several safety incidents in the air force.
In August 2023, during a flight demonstration exercise, strange flames emerged from an IDF jet’s nozzle. At the time, the air force said that normal engine flames escaped through a gap in the nozzle’s seals.
In September last year, a Dassault Mirage 2000 fighter jet crashed in a training exercise over waters off Hsinchu County.
In January, a master sergeant died after being sucked into an IDF jet engine, and in February, one aircraft crashed due to double engine failure.
In addition to a landing accident involving an IDF jet in Penghu County and an emergency ejection from a Mirage 2000 fighter in Taichung, there are reports that the air force has grounded all training flights for its main fleet while it investigates the cause of the incidents.
In other news, the Ministry of National Defense yesterday said that a large number of Chinese military aircraft were detected near Taiwan on Wednesday during China’s “joint combat readiness patrol” drill.
Twenty of the 34 aircraft detected were taking part in the drill, which involved the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) air force and navy, the ministry said.
Sixteen of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, while 11 crossed its extension, it added.
The Chinese warplane activity was detected between 6am and 7:20pm, and eight Chinese military vessels and one other ship were detected in the 24-hour period starting at 6am, the ministry said.
The ministry said it has been closely monitoring the situation, and deployed combat air patrol aircraft and coastal missile systems in response to the threats.
The PLA has held 14 joint combat readiness patrol drills this year, including three last month, ministry data showed.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS