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Death toll in Taiwan plane crash rises to 31; 12 still missing

February 05, 2015 08:22 IST

An airplane carrying 58 passengers and crew members clipped a bridge and crashed into a river in Taiwan minutes after takeoff Wednesday, killing at least 31 people, officials said.

Rescuers search inside the wreckage of a TransAsia Airways aircraft after it was recovered from a river in New Taipei City. Photograph: Pichi Chuang/Reuters

Rescuers using rubber rafts worked into the night to save 15 people trapped in the mostly submerged wreckage. But by early Thursday, hope was fading for the 12 people still unaccounted for.

The plane crash also left 15 injured. Bodies of the captain and two co-pilots have been discovered, and the plane’s two black boxes have been recovered.

Flight GE235 was headed for Kinmen from Taipei with 53 passengers on board, including 31 from the Chinese mainland, and five crew. Three of the mainland passengers are known to be children. 

Officials continue to hunt for the 12 missing passengers, who they believe may be trapped inside the aircraft. Photograph: Pichi Chuang/Reuters

While it’s too early to say what caused the crash, engine trouble or weight shifting were unlikely to be causes, Waldron said. Other possible factors include pilot error, weather or freak incidents such as bird strikes.

“It’s too early now to speculate on whether it was an issue with the aircraft or crew,” said an official. 

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