TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A tragic accident occurred at Taichung International Airport's Ching-Chuan-Kang Air Base (清泉崗基地) on Tuesday (Jan. 21). An Air Force sergeant, identified by his surname Hu (胡), died after an aircraft engine ingested him during a pre-shutdown inspection. Despite immediate medical attention, Hu succumbed to his injuries.
The incident involved an AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo (經國號) IDF fighter jet (Indigenous Defense Fighter), marked with the number 1504 operated by the 3rd Tactical fighter Wing (空軍第三聯隊). This aircraft, originally a prototype under the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation's (AIDC, 漢翔公司) "Brave Eagle Program" (翔昇計畫), was converted to production specifications and delivered to the base in 2016. This marks the second occurrence of such an accident at the base, with a similar fatality reported in the early 1990s.
According to a military fan page, Hu belonged to the 7th Tactical fighter Wing (第七作戰隊) and graduated from the Air Force Institute of Technology (空軍航技學院) in 2007. Recently promoted to sergeant, Hu was conducting routine checks when the accident happened. The aircraft had already come to a stop, but Hu was drawn into the right engine while placing wheel chocks.
A retired Air Force officer explained that pre-shutdown checks require securing safety pins before notifying the pilot to shut down the engine. The officer suggested that failure to heed ground warning lines or engine status might have contributed to the incident, though a detailed investigation will determine the exact cause.
