A Transasia ATR-72, registration B-22810 performing flight GE-222 from Kaohsiung to Makung on the island of Penghu (Taiwan) with 54 passengers and 4 crew, has crashed was on final approach to Makung’s runway 02 in strong gusting winds killing 47.
The aircraft on its second attempt to land crashed about 3000ft short of the runway, struck buildings and burst into flames.
According to reports 11 people received injuries and were taken to hospitals.
Website Aviation Herald says according to Taiwan authorities the ATR-72-212A registration B-22810 was 14 years in service.
The captain of the flight was 60 years of age with 22,900 hours of experience and his first officer was 39 with 2,300 hours of experience.
Taiwan’s DGCA said that the crew had decided to go around and positioned for a second approach, but contact was lost during the second attempt to land.
The weather conditions for landing were suitable at 5000ft visibility and two other aircraft had successfully landed just prior to the accident aircraft.
Aviation Herald said that emergency services reported that the crew had aborted the first approach due to heavy rain reducing visibility.
Two people aboard the plane were French citizens and the rest Taiwanese.
Typhoon Matmo had just passed across the island, causing heavy rains.
Over 200 airline flights had been canceled earlier in the day due to rain and strong winds.
Penghu, is a scenic chain of 64 islands and a popular tourist site about 90 miles southwest of Taipei.
