Effee
13th May 2007, 11:22
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view_article.php?article_id=65519
Agence France-Presse
Last updated 12:28pm (Mla time) 05/12/2007
TAIPEI--Two Singaporean servicemen were killed and nine others wounded in a fighter jet crash in Taiwan that also killed two Taiwanese pilots, officials said.
The F-5F fighter jet crashed 30 minutes after take-off from an air base in southeastern Taiwan on Friday during a simulation of a ground attack, according to Taiwan's defense ministry.
Pilot Wei Tze-yuan and co-pilot Chan Chia-jin, in an apparent attempt to reduce impact, had manoeuvred the plane away from a crowded industrial complex before crashing into a military compound where the Singaporeans were staying, it said.
The Singaporean servicemen, who were in a training program in Taiwan, were not taking part in Friday's drill.
The deceased were identified as Corporal Isz Sazli Bin Sapari, 19, and Private Fan Yao Jin, 23, Singapore's defense ministry said in a statement issued late Friday.
Two Singaporean servicemen were seriously wounded while seven suffered from minor injuries in the accident, it said.
Taiwanese authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, the second in the past two months, while all remaining F-5F fighters participating in the drill were immediately grounded.
The accident came as Taiwan prepares to showcase its military strength, beginning next Monday, in five days of exercises designed to test its defense capabilities against rival China.
Defense minister Lee Jye said the live-fire "Han Kuang (Han Glory) 23" manoeuvres would go on as scheduled.
Agence France-Presse
Last updated 12:28pm (Mla time) 05/12/2007
TAIPEI--Two Singaporean servicemen were killed and nine others wounded in a fighter jet crash in Taiwan that also killed two Taiwanese pilots, officials said.
The F-5F fighter jet crashed 30 minutes after take-off from an air base in southeastern Taiwan on Friday during a simulation of a ground attack, according to Taiwan's defense ministry.
Pilot Wei Tze-yuan and co-pilot Chan Chia-jin, in an apparent attempt to reduce impact, had manoeuvred the plane away from a crowded industrial complex before crashing into a military compound where the Singaporeans were staying, it said.
The Singaporean servicemen, who were in a training program in Taiwan, were not taking part in Friday's drill.
The deceased were identified as Corporal Isz Sazli Bin Sapari, 19, and Private Fan Yao Jin, 23, Singapore's defense ministry said in a statement issued late Friday.
Two Singaporean servicemen were seriously wounded while seven suffered from minor injuries in the accident, it said.
Taiwanese authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, the second in the past two months, while all remaining F-5F fighters participating in the drill were immediately grounded.
The accident came as Taiwan prepares to showcase its military strength, beginning next Monday, in five days of exercises designed to test its defense capabilities against rival China.
Defense minister Lee Jye said the live-fire "Han Kuang (Han Glory) 23" manoeuvres would go on as scheduled.