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Taiwan plane crash: Toll hits 48 as families visit scene Taiwan plane crash: Toll hits 48 as families visit scene
(about 2 hours later)
Forty-eight people are now known to have died after a passenger plane crashed in Taiwan's Penghu island, as a storm passed over the area. Forty-eight people are now known to have died after a passenger plane crashed in Taiwan's Penghu archipelago, amid stormy weather in the area.
The plane, carrying 58 people, crashed into buildings after a failed attempt to land at Magong airport.The plane, carrying 58 people, crashed into buildings after a failed attempt to land at Magong airport.
The other 10 people on board were hurt. Two French nationals were on the plane, officials said. No crew members are thought to have survived.The other 10 people on board were hurt. Two French nationals were on the plane, officials said. No crew members are thought to have survived.
Family members were flying to Penghu on Thursday, Taiwan media said.Family members were flying to Penghu on Thursday, Taiwan media said.
Minister of Transportation Yeh Kuang-shih and aviation officials were also flying to the island to start an investigation into the disaster, Taiwan's CNA news agency said.Minister of Transportation Yeh Kuang-shih and aviation officials were also flying to the island to start an investigation into the disaster, Taiwan's CNA news agency said.
The plane that crashed was an ATR-72 TransAsia Airways aircraft flying from Taiwan's southern city of Kaohsiung to Penghu, a popular tourist destination in the Taiwan Strait.The plane that crashed was an ATR-72 TransAsia Airways aircraft flying from Taiwan's southern city of Kaohsiung to Penghu, a popular tourist destination in the Taiwan Strait.
It was Taiwan's first fatal air crash in more than a decade and came as Typhoon Matmo struck, bringing torrential rain and high wind. Magong is the main city in Penghu, which consists of a main island and several smaller islands off the west coast of Taiwan.
It was Taiwan's first fatal air crash in more than a decade and came after Typhoon Matmo struck, bringing torrential rain and high wind.
The plane crashed on its second attempt to land at the airport. It lost contact with controllers after telling them it was going around again.The plane crashed on its second attempt to land at the airport. It lost contact with controllers after telling them it was going around again.
The aircraft then came down in Xixi village outside the airport.The aircraft then came down in Xixi village outside the airport.
"I heard a loud bang," TV station TBS quoted a local resident as saying. "I thought it was thunder, and then I heard another bang and I saw a fireball not far away from my house.""I heard a loud bang," TV station TBS quoted a local resident as saying. "I thought it was thunder, and then I heard another bang and I saw a fireball not far away from my house."
Images late on Wednesday night showed firefighters dousing flames at the scene and and using torches to rescue injured passengers.Images late on Wednesday night showed firefighters dousing flames at the scene and and using torches to rescue injured passengers.
Official said visibility at the time of the crash was 1,600m (one mile) and within acceptable standards for landing, despite the storm.Official said visibility at the time of the crash was 1,600m (one mile) and within acceptable standards for landing, despite the storm.
Reports from Taiwan suggested officials were looking for one person who might have been in residential buildings hit by the plane as it crashed. Five Penghu residents were injured on the ground but by Thursday morning all had been discharged from hospital, the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said.
TransAsia, a private airline, flies domestic routes in Taiwan and international routes in North and South-East Asia.TransAsia, a private airline, flies domestic routes in Taiwan and international routes in North and South-East Asia.
It has apologised and says it will compensate relatives of those on board.It has apologised and says it will compensate relatives of those on board.
TransAsia said the pilot had 22 years of experience and the co-pilot had two and a half years. But it says it will have to wait for analysis of flight data from the black box to determine who was flying the plane.
In a statement, Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou called it a "very sad day in the history of Taiwan aviation".
This is Taiwan's worst aviation disaster since May 2002, when a China Airlines flight from Taipei to Hong Kong crashed near Penghu, killing all 225 on board.This is Taiwan's worst aviation disaster since May 2002, when a China Airlines flight from Taipei to Hong Kong crashed near Penghu, killing all 225 on board.