A Taiwanese air force officer has died after being sucked into the engine of a fighter jet, officials said.
The incident reportedly occurred at Chinchuankhan Air Base on Tuesday when the sergeant major was conducting a pre-shutdown inspection of the aircraft.
Taiwan's air force said the officer was “inhaled by the engine for unknown reasons.” Afterwards, lifesaving efforts failed and he was confirmed dead.
“In response to media reports that “the instructor's throttle operation is suspected of causing a female officer to be inhaled by a fighter jet,'' the Air Force Command has confirmed that the incident is currently being investigated by a special committee in cooperation with the prosecutor's office. “We will clarify the cause,” he added.
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Taiwanese Air Force ground personnel load Skysword II missiles onto an indigenous defense fighter jet as part of combat readiness training at Chingchuangang Air Base in Taichung, Jan. 8. (I-Hwa Cheng/AFP via Getty Images)
Officials said they were “deeply saddened” by the death.
Taiwan's air force also said it would “fully support the family's subsequent response,” and “will carry out a comprehensive review and improve work processes to prevent a similar incident from happening again.”
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A Taiwanese Air Force pilot climbs into the cockpit of an indigenous defense fighter jet during a scramble as part of combat readiness training at Qing Chuangang Air Base in Taichung, January 7, 2025. (I-Hwa Cheng/AFP via Getty Images)
The Taipei Times reported that the plane involved in the incident was an indigenous national defense fighter jet, and that the victim had served in the military for about 17 years.
A person familiar with the aircraft told the Taipei Times that it was “extremely unlikely” that ground crew would be sucked into the engine, which has a much smaller air intake.
Officials said the motors slowed down after the plane landed and should have been stopped before wheel chocks were deployed at the base.
A Taiwanese Air Force indigenous defense fighter jet scrambles to take off as part of combat readiness training at Cheongchuangang Air Base in Taichung, January 7. (I-Hwa Cheng/AFP via Getty Images)
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Surveillance cameras installed in the base's hangar should provide a complete picture of what happened, the source added.
