Taiwanese Air Force Officer Killed in Fighter Jet Engine Accident
The fatal incident occurred during a routine inspection at the Ching Chuan Kang Air Force Base in Taichung, prompting an investigation and operational review.
- A 41-year-old Taiwanese Air Force officer, identified by her surname Hu, died after being sucked into the engine of an Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) aircraft on January 21, 2025.
- The accident occurred during a routine post-landing inspection before the jet's engines were turned off at the Ching Chuan Kang Air Force Base in Taichung.
- The Air Force Command Headquarters has launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident and pledged to review safety protocols to prevent similar tragedies.
- Operations involving IDF fighter jets at the central airbase have been temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure.
- The IDF aircraft, developed in Taiwan during the 1980s, is a key component of the country's defense strategy, regularly used in drills to counter potential threats from China.