Eight dead after TransAsia flight hits Taipei bridge, crashes into river
Nine people are confirmed dead and rescuers were working Wednesday to pull survivors from the submerged wreck of a TransAsia flight in Taiwan.
The flight, which was carrying 53 passengers and five crew, crashed shortly after takeoff from Taipei Songshan Airport, en route to the island of Kinmen.
A Taipei City government spokesperson said the ATR 72 twin engine turboprop aircraft hit the Nanhu Bridge before crashing into the Keelong River, just before 11 a.m. local time (10 p.m. ET).
Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) confirmed that the flight lost contact while over the Nangang district of Taipei.
Rescuers worked to free the last remaining passengers from the turboprop aircraft.
While most passengers are accounted for, around 10 were still to be rescued, the Taipei City Government told CNA, Taiwan's official news agency.
Last year, a TransAsia flight which was attempting to land in the Taiwanese Penghu Islands crashed, resulting in 48 deaths.
