2 pilots killed in Taiwan military plane crash

Two Taiwanese Air Force pilots died Tuesday after a trainer aircraft crashed during a training mission at the Gangshan Air Base in southern Taiwan, according to an official statement.

The T-34 aircraft was conducting a simulated engine-failure training flight when it went down near the northern end of the runway, Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te said in a statement posted on US social media platform Facebook.

Authorities said a special task force has been established to investigate the cause of the accident.

Meanwhile, Lai expressed condolences over the deaths, calling the incident a “sudden tragedy” and thanking the pilots for their service and sacrifice.