Light aircraft crash in Taiwan kills two

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-04 09:49

TAIPEI -- A light aircraft crashed at around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday in south Taiwan's Pingtung County, killing one pilot and one passenger aboard.

According to a report from local media, the plane smashed into a field near an airport specially designed for light aircrafts in the county's Gaoshu Township after its take-off.

The pilot was identified as a 51-year-old male surnamed Hu and the passenger was a 57-year-old female surnamed Wu. Both were residents from Kaohsiung.

Local police officers said that the privately-owned aircraft had crashed into pieces and the the two aircrew were dead on the way to a hospital.

According to witnesses on the venue, the aircraft lost control when it was making a dive.

Local police said the airport has been illegally used by light aircraft enthusiasts to enjoy flying on weekends and holidays for years.

According to the island's flight control authority, there have been eight light aircraft accidents since 2004 in Taiwan, in which flying fans without professional training and registration used illegal airports.