2020 ROCAF UH-60M crash

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2020 ROCAF UH-60M crash
01.14 Zong Tong Zhui Ban [0102] Xun Zhi Jiang Shi Xun Jiang Zhang , Zhui Jin Guan Jie Ji Ban Zeng Bao Yang Ling  - Flickr id 49382970482.jpg
Joint funeral at Songshan Air Base, Taipei in memorial of the deceased in the 2020 New Taipei helicopter crash, with flag draped coffins on the front.
Accident
Date2 January 2020 (2020-01-02)
Summary Pilot error due to inclement weather
Site Wulai District, New Taipei, Taiwan
Aircraft
Aircraft type Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
OperatorFlag of the Republic of China Air Force.svg  Republic of China Air Force
Registration 933 [1]
Flight origin Songshan Air Base, Taipei, Taiwan
DestinationDong'aoling Radar Station, Su'ao, Yilan County, Taiwan
Occupants13
Passengers10
Crew3
Fatalities8
Injuries5
Survivors5

On 2 January 2020, a Black Hawk helicopter of the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) Air Rescue Group crashed in the Wulai District of New Taipei, Taiwan, while executing a VIP transport mission. [2] General Shen Yi-ming, Republic of China's Chief of the General Staff (CGS), along with 7 other personnel on board, died in the crash. [3]

Contents

Crash

933, the ROC Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in the accident, seen in 2018. Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk Zhong Hua Min Guo Kong Jun Jiu Hu Dui 933 (Cropped).jpg
933, the ROC Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in the accident, seen in 2018.

The Black Hawk was taking off for a routine mission to visit service personnel in Dong'aoling Radar Station, Su'ao, Yilan county. [4] The helicopter lost contact with Songshan Air Base at 8:07 AM, thirteen minutes after taking off and crashed into a mountainside. [3] [1]

General Shen Yi-ming, Chief of the General Staff, was on board the helicopter along with seven other officers and a senior enlisted adviser from the General Staff Headquarters, Ministry of National Defense (MND-GSH), a military correspondent, and three crew members. Shen and seven others including two Major Generals were killed, while five others were injured. [3]

Victims

Eight military servicemembers were killed and 5 were wounded. [5]

Investigation

During a news conference on 2 January, General Hsiung Hou-chi, Commanding General of the Air Force, stated that the government has set up a task force to investigate the cause of the crash. [3] The flight recorders of the aircraft were recovered on 3 January and sent to the Taiwan Transportation Safety Board. [6] [7] Proprietary hardware within the flight recorders were delivered to Sikorsky Aircraft. [8]

On 21 July 2020, the Control Yuan announced that Jen I-wei and Chou Shih-kai, both of whom were posted to the Air Force Weather Wing's No. 8 Base at the time of the crash, had been impeached. [9] [10] It was reported in January 2022 that the Judicial Yuan's Disciplinary Court had barred Jen from working in the public sector for two years. No penalty was issued to Chou, due to insufficient evidence against him. [11]

Aftermath

President Tsai Ing-wen, along with Generals and Admirals, participated in a moment of silence on the military conference after the helicopter crash. 01.03 Zong Tong Zhao Kai [Guo Fang Jun Shi Hui Tan ]  - Flickr id 49319999607.jpg
President Tsai Ing-wen, along with Generals and Admirals, participated in a moment of silence on the military conference after the helicopter crash.
National flag at Dong'aoling Radar Station, scheduled destination of the flight, lowered to half-staff on 4 January in condolence of the crash. 01.04 Zong Tong Wei Mian Kong Jun Di Yi Lei Da Fen Dui  - Flickr id 49326599751 (cropped version for the half-mast).jpg
National flag at Dong'aoling Radar Station, scheduled destination of the flight, lowered to half-staff on 4 January in condolence of the crash.

This crash occurred nine days before the Taiwanese general election. President Tsai Ing-wen's campaign office and Democratic Progressive Party announced that their presidential and legislative campaign activities would be stopped for three days, [12] [13] and Han Kuo-yu's presidential campaign office said that Han would cancel campaign events for two days. [3]

Reactions

United States

General Mark A. Milley, Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, issued a statement to express condolences to members of the Taiwan military on the death of General Shen and the seven other deceased on behalf of the U.S. military. [14] [15] American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), U.S. representative mission on the island, also issued a statement to extend condolences on the accident, and that it stands ready to assist their Taiwan counterparts in the aftermath. [16] On 3 January, the flag of the United States at AIT Taipei Main Office flew at half-staff. [17]

Japan

The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association stated that "they were shocked and grief-stricken at the unfortunate deaths of the eight personnel, including Chief of Staff General Shen Yiming and would be mourned for their valor and service to their nation. At the same time also wishing the five remaining surviving personnel a speedy and healthy recovery." [18]

Other countries

Australian Office in Taipei, German Institute Taipei, British Office Taipei, Polish Office in Taipei, along with other foreign missions in Taiwan, as well as Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, Paraguayan Minister of Defense Bernardino Soto Estigarribia and San Christopher and Nevis Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Brantley and other senior foreign government officials have also expressed their condolences on Facebook or Twitter. [18]

See also

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References

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