Taiwan F-16 fighter jet crashes, killing pilot
Taiwan’s air force said the pilot of an F-16 fighter jet was killed after his plane crashed on 4 June in the mountains at the start of annual live-fire drills.
The single-seat jet disappeared off the radar over mountainous terrain in the northeastern county of Keelung at 13:43 pm (0543 GMT), 34 minutes after take off, the air force said.
The defence ministry, local police and fire department had conducted land and air searches for the 31 year-old pilot, Maj Wu Yen-ting, for hours before discovering the wreckage of the plane on the evening of 4 June.
The air force said in a statement: ‘It is confirmed that the pilot has died in the line of duty ... a commission will be set up later to investigate and clarify the cause of the incident.’
Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen and defence minister Yen De-fa expressed their condolences and pledged compensation to the pilot's family.
Wu was also involved in the last F-16 accident in Taiwan, in 2013, when he parachuted to safety following a suspected mechanical failure.
The five-day ‘Han Guang’ (Han Glory) drill kicked off on 4 June with troops practising thwarting a Chinese ‘invasion’ by simulating surprise coastal assaults to reflect increased military threats from Beijing.
Although Taiwan is a self-ruling democracy, it has never formally declared independence from the mainland and Beijing still sees it as a renegade province to be brought back into the fold, by force if necessary.
Taiwan's Defence Ministry has said the main goal of the drill is to counter any future Chinese military mission to the island.
As relations have soured between Beijing and Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, China has increasingly flexed its military muscles.
It held live-fire drills in April 2018 in the Taiwan Strait – the narrow waterway separating the Chinese mainland from Taiwan – following weeks of naval manoeuvres in the area.
In November 2017, Taiwan's air force temporarily grounded all its Mirage jets as it searched for a pilot who went missing while conducting a training mission in one of the French-made fighters. Both pilot and plane are yet to be found.
More from Defence Notes
-
What the future holds for Ukraine and NATO under a Trump administration
Although Trump’s geopolitics policy for Europe remains unclear, defence analysts from the US and Europe predict how his incoming administration would attempt to handle critical issues on the continent.
-
RUSI deputy: UK needs longer procurement plans and improved awareness of US sift to Indo-Pacific
The UK budget announced in Parliament on 30 October was the first by a Labour government in 14 years which has also launched a review into defence procurement programmes.
-
Australia outlines longer punch and brings local industry onboard
The Australian government has placed a focus on Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) which has included the purchase of additional long-range rocket systems and investments in local production of missiles.
-
UK boosts defence budget by 5.3%, but is this enough?
The UK budget announced in Parliament on 30 October is the first by a Labour government in 14 years. While it sees a boost in defence spending, this comes in the face of fiscal challenges and the effects of inflation.
-
UK makes big moves to fix “broken” defence procurement system ahead of major review
The changes are intended to meet greater need and deliver more value for money.
-
US companies invest in production capabilities to satisfy DoD’s hunger for cutting-edge capabilities
BAE Systems, Booz Allen Hamilton and Lockheed Martin have been betting on new facilities and innovative manufacturing technologies to speed up the development of new solutions.