Tragedy struck the Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taiwan on Tuesday when a master sergeant was tragically pulled into the engine of a fighter jet during a pre-shutdown inspection. The Taiwanese Air Force confirmed the incident, stating the officer was "inhaled by the engine for unknown reasons." Despite immediate life-saving attempts, the officer was later pronounced dead.
The Air Force has launched a joint investigation with prosecutors to determine the precise cause of the accident, addressing media speculation that an instructor's throttle manipulation may have been involved. They expressed profound sorrow over the loss and pledged full support to the officer's family in navigating the aftermath. A comprehensive review of procedures and protocols will be conducted to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The aircraft involved was identified as an Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF). The Taipei Times reported that the deceased officer had served in the military for approximately 17 years. An expert familiar with the IDF aircraft expressed astonishment at the incident, describing the likelihood of a ground crew member being drawn into the engine, which has a relatively small intake, as "minuscule." Typically, after landing, the engine's rotation slows significantly and should be completely stopped by the time wheel chocks are deployed. Security footage from hangar cameras is expected to provide a clearer understanding of the events leading to the tragedy.
