Taiwan probes fighter jet crash after latest incident involving French-made Mirage planes

Taiwan’s air force is investigating the cause of a Mirage 2000 fighter jet crash off the island’s northwest coast during a nighttime training mission, according to the Taiwanese defence ministry.

The single-seat, French-built warplane from the air force’s second tactical fighter wing took off at 8.05pm on Tuesday from Hsinchu Air Base in northwest Taiwan for routine training manoeuvres. However, it lost power when returning to the base half an hour later.

The island’s coastguard found the pilot, identified as Hsieh Pei-hsun, in the sea off the Hsinchu coast two hours later, the ministry reported.

“The pilot remained conscious and was taken to the hospital for further examination,” the ministry said.