Taiwan’s air force has suspended all training flights involving T-34 trainer aircraft after a fatal crash during a routine exercise on Tuesday. The incident claimed the lives of two experienced pilots and prompted authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the cause of the accident.
According to the air force, the single-engine propeller aircraft crashed at 8:08 a.m. near the northern end of the runway at Gangshan Air Base in the southern port city of Kaohsiung. The aircraft was participating in a simulated engine failure exercise when the accident occurred approximately 20 minutes after takeoff.
Military officials confirmed that both pilots, aged 41 and 45, held the rank of lieutenant colonel. Despite their extensive experience, neither pilot reported any technical issues or abnormalities before the aircraft went down.
Two experienced Taiwanese Air Force pilots were killed when a T-34C training aircraft crashed during an emergency-training exercise at Gangshan Air Base on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/MKxd3HytVX
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 2, 2026
Major General Chiang Yi-cheng, the air force inspector general, stated that communication records showed no signs of distress during the flight. He noted that the crew maintained normal radio contact throughout the mission until the crash occurred.
President Responds as Investigation Begins
In response to the tragedy, Taiwan’s leader, Lai Ching-te, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the two officers. He described the pilots as heroic and thanked them for their dedication and service to the country.
Meanwhile, the air force has established a special task force to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash. Investigators will examine flight data, maintenance records, and operational procedures to identify potential causes.
The Taiwanese military uses Beechcraft T-34 aircraft as its primary trainer platform for pilot instruction. The aircraft entered service in Taiwan in 1984 and has played a key role in training generations of military aviators.
The latest accident follows another military aviation incident in January, when an F-16 fighter jet crashed into the sea during a routine training mission off eastern Taiwan.
