AFP — Thursday 29 October 2020
A Taiwanese pilot was killed Thursday after his F-5E fighter jet crashed off the island’s eastern coast during routine training, the second fatal air crash in three months. Pilot Chu Kuang-meng, 29, ejected after reporting an engine malfunction shortly after takeoff but could not be revived after being rescued from the sea unconscious. The crash comes as Taiwan’s aged air force is forced to meet an unprecedented level of incursions by Chinese fighters — Taiwan says it has scrambled its jets at double the rate of last year. Air force chief Huang Chih-wei said all F-5 fighters have been grounded for safety checks. Analysts say China’s increased military activity is designed to test Taiwan’s defence responses while wearing out its fighters.