One of the Taiwan air force’s new, domestically developed advanced jet trainer aircraft crashed on February 15 after reporting engine failure, though the pilot safely bailed out, the military said, Report informs via Reuters.
It was the first major setback for the AT-5 Brave Eagle, made by state-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corp with a budget of T$68.6 billion ($2.1 billion). The first test flight in 2020.
Taiwan’s air force said the aircraft took off from the Chihhang air base in Taitung on the island’s east coast for a weapons training mission and then reported the failure of both its engines.
The single pilot flying the dual-cockpit aircraft was rescued after parachuting out, while the jet, which had only 183 flying hours, crashed into the sea, it said, adding that an investigation team has been set up.
