‘Deeply saddened’: Two dead in military training plane crash over Taiwan

A Taiwanese military training aircraft crashed on Tuesday at 8:08am local time (0008 GMT) at Gangshan Air Base in Kaohsiung, killing the two pilots on board, the defense ministry confirmed. The T-34 plane went down during a simulated engine failure exercise, marking the latest in a series of military incidents involving Taiwan’s Air Force. The pilots were identified as Lieutenant Colonels Lu and Guo, though no further details were provided by the Air Force spokesperson. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te expressed deep sadness over the loss, calling the pilots ‘heroic’ and thanking them for their ‘sacrifice and dedication.’ The Air Force has established a task force to investigate the cause of the crash. The T-34, a Beechcraft single-engine propeller plane, has been Taiwan’s primary trainer aircraft since deliveries began in 1984. This incident follows a F-16 fighter jet crash in January off eastern Taiwan, where the pilot reportedly ejected but was not found. Taiwan’s defense ministry has emphasized close monitoring of regional military activities, including China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning, which conducted operations east of the Philippines this week—the first Chinese carrier transit of the Taiwan Strait since December. Tensions remain high as China continues to assert its territorial claims over Taiwan, describing military exercises around the island as ‘justified.’ Meanwhile, Taiwan has strengthened its defenses, expanded coast guard and missile capabilities, and deepened cooperation with the United States and Japan. The U.S. has provided military assistance, including a record arms package in late 2025, which Beijing views as interference. China’s recent large-scale military drills explicitly warned ‘external forces’ against involvement in the Taiwan issue, underscoring the geopolitical strain in the region.