Taiwanese Newly Developed Advanced Trainer Aircraft Crashes... Pilot Rescued Safely

First Accident Since 2021 Introduction
Military Grounds Aircraft Model and Launches Investigation

Taiwan's domestically developed next-generation advanced trainer aircraft, the AT-5 Yongying (勇鷹, English name Brave Eagle), crashed on the morning of the 15th due to engine failure. The pilot ejected safely and was rescued without injury.

New supersonic advanced trainer aircraft 'AT-5 Yongying (勇鷹)' of Taiwan. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News Agency

According to foreign media including Taiwan Central News Agency (CNA), at around 8:40 a.m. local time, a Yongying trainer aircraft that took off from Zhihang Air Force Base in the southern part of Taitung County (臺東) crashed into the sea near Dulan (都蘭) during a training flight.

The pilot, flying solo, reported that both engines failed just before the crash and ejected, landing in the sea. He was rescued about 30 minutes after the search began. Although he was not seriously injured, he was hospitalized for observation due to symptoms such as hypothermia, the Air Force explained.

The Air Force has activated a special task force to investigate the cause of the accident and plans to suspend operations of the aircraft model and conduct safety inspections.

The crashed Yongying had only 183 flight hours. The pilot is 34 years old, graduated from the Taiwan Air Force Academy, and had logged a total of 1,184 flight hours before the accident, CNA reported. This is the first accident since the Taiwanese military officially introduced the Yongying in 2021.

Meaning "Brave Eagle," the Yongying is an advanced trainer aircraft designed for the final stage of fighter pilot training and can be used as an attack aircraft in emergencies. Taiwan's state-owned aircraft manufacturer Hanxiang (漢翔, AIDC) Aviation developed it under the directive of President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016, with a budget of 68.6 billion New Taiwan dollars (approximately 2.94 trillion Korean won), and conducted its first test flight in 2020.

The Taiwanese military plans to introduce a total of 66 Yongying aircraft by 2026 to replace the aging main trainers, the AIDC AT-3 and the American-made F-5. So far, 41 Yongying aircraft have been delivered.

Although the Taiwanese military mostly uses American-made weapons, as China intensifies military modernization and military exercises around Taiwan, Taiwan has made the development of its domestic defense industry a top priority.