Two Republic of China Air Force Dassault Mirage 2000-5Ei fighter aircraft at Hsinchu Air Base in northwestern Taiwan on 23 May 2024. The Mirage that crashed on 10 September 2024 is the aircraft on the left (with serial number 2047). (Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images)
A Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) Dassault Mirage 2000-5Ei combat aircraft crashed during a night training flight on 10 September, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said.
According to the MND, the single-seat fighter aircraft (with serial number 2047) departed Hsinchu Air Base in northwestern Taiwan at 2005 h local time. The pilot ejected from the aircraft after the Mirage 2000-5Ei suffered a loss of power at about 2035 h local time, the MND said.
A search-and-rescue operation was “immediately launched”, the MND said, adding that the pilot was located in the sea, about 8 n miles off the coast of Waipu, at about 2220 h local time.
In a social media post on 10 September, Kuan Bi-ling, minister of Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council, said that the pilot parachuted into waters classified at level three to four, with waves reaching one metre in height and water temperature at 30.4°C.
“A coastal patrol boat [of the Coast Guard Administration] picked up the conscious pilot at 2240 h local time. He was evacuated to the National Military Hospital for further examination,” the MND said.
Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo has ordered an investigation to identify the cause of the incident as soon as possible, according to the MND.
The Mirage 2000-5Ei was part of the 2nd Tactical Fighter Wing at Hsinchu Air Base, according to the MND. The wing has three groups equipped with the Mirage 2000-5Ei and the twin-seat 2000-5Di.
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