A plane has crashed outside an airport on a small Taiwanese island, with 47 people feared dead. It is understood that plane was landing in stormy weather conditions when it crashed.
The countries minister for transport Yeh Kuang-shih was quoted by the government’s Central News Agency stating that it is believed another 11 people were injured when the plane crashed and caught fire while making a second landing attempt.
Flight GE222, an aircraft operated by Taiwanese airline TransAsia Airways, was understood to be traveling from the southern port city of Kaohsiung to the island Penghu, which is located halfway between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait, according to the reports.
The aircraft apparently crashed outside the airport in Xixi village, with pictures in local media showing a handful of firefighters using torches to look at wreckage in the darkness.
Mr Yeh has revealed that the flight had 58 passengers and a number of crew members on board when it crashed.