Fifty-eight people were aboard TransAsia Airways Flight GE235 when it veered out of control as it flew to Kinmen, off the coast of the Chinese province of Xiamen. (Image: Screenshot)
Feb 04, 2015
Update (10:05 EST): At least 25 people are now confirmed dead.
A TransAsia Airways flight in Taiwan clipped a highway bridge and then tumbled into the Keelung River on Wednesday, killing at least 23 people.
The incident was captured by the dashcam of a vehicle that was on Taipei's Nanhu Bridge at the time of the crash.
The last communication from one of the aircraft's pilots was "Mayday Mayday engine flameout," according to an air traffic control recording on liveatc.net.
The turboprop ATR 72-600 aircraft was hoisted from the river late Wednesday, as rescuers continued to search for 20 missing passengers. Many of the travelers aboard the flight were from China.
Associated Press reports:
Wu Jun-hong, a Taipei Fire Department official who was coordinating the rescue, said the missing people were either still in the fuselage or had perhaps been pulled down the river.
"At the moment, things don't look too optimistic," Wu told reporters at the scene. "Those in the front of the plane are likely to have lost their lives."
Watch the dashcam footage in this video from Sky News:
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
Update (10:05 EST): At least 25 people are now confirmed dead.
A TransAsia Airways flight in Taiwan clipped a highway bridge and then tumbled into the Keelung River on Wednesday, killing at least 23 people.
The incident was captured by the dashcam of a vehicle that was on Taipei's Nanhu Bridge at the time of the crash.
The last communication from one of the aircraft's pilots was "Mayday Mayday engine flameout," according to an air traffic control recording on liveatc.net.
The turboprop ATR 72-600 aircraft was hoisted from the river late Wednesday, as rescuers continued to search for 20 missing passengers. Many of the travelers aboard the flight were from China.
Associated Press reports:
Wu Jun-hong, a Taipei Fire Department official who was coordinating the rescue, said the missing people were either still in the fuselage or had perhaps been pulled down the river.
"At the moment, things don't look too optimistic," Wu told reporters at the scene. "Those in the front of the plane are likely to have lost their lives."
Watch the dashcam footage in this video from Sky News:
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
Update (10:05 EST): At least 25 people are now confirmed dead.
A TransAsia Airways flight in Taiwan clipped a highway bridge and then tumbled into the Keelung River on Wednesday, killing at least 23 people.
The incident was captured by the dashcam of a vehicle that was on Taipei's Nanhu Bridge at the time of the crash.
The last communication from one of the aircraft's pilots was "Mayday Mayday engine flameout," according to an air traffic control recording on liveatc.net.
The turboprop ATR 72-600 aircraft was hoisted from the river late Wednesday, as rescuers continued to search for 20 missing passengers. Many of the travelers aboard the flight were from China.
Associated Press reports:
Wu Jun-hong, a Taipei Fire Department official who was coordinating the rescue, said the missing people were either still in the fuselage or had perhaps been pulled down the river.
"At the moment, things don't look too optimistic," Wu told reporters at the scene. "Those in the front of the plane are likely to have lost their lives."
Watch the dashcam footage in this video from Sky News:
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.