PENGHU (TVBS News) — A domestically produced F-CK-1 Ching-kuo fighter jet (F-CK-1經國號戰鬥機) suffered a wheel brake system malfunction during routine training operations at Magong Air Force Base (馬公基地) in Taiwan's outlying Penghu islands on Wednesday (April 16). Taiwan's Air Force Command Headquarters (空軍司令部) confirmed that while the incident forced a temporary runway closure, no personnel were injured in the mishap.
The incident marks the second runway closure involving the same aircraft, tail number 1604, within a single week. Officials confirmed that last Thursday, the same jet was grounded during nighttime exercises when a tire deflated, disrupting six commercial flights. According to military authorities, Wednesday's malfunction caused the aircraft to tilt forward after its left landing gear's thermal fuse brake jammed, resulting in damage to multiple components including the landing gear, horizontal stabilizer, and fuel tank. The left central wheel detached completely during the incident.
Military officials issued an apology to affected travelers and pledged to resume normal runway operations as quickly as possible. The fighter jets, operated by units known as "Tienchu Troops" (天駒部隊), routinely rotate from Taiwan's main island bases at Ching-Chuan-Kang (清泉崗) and Tainan to Magong Airport in Penghu. These deployments form a critical component of Taiwan's front-line air defense strategy in the Taiwan Strait, the narrow waterway separating the island from mainland China.
The military has significantly altered its deployment patterns in recent years. While Tienchu units historically maintained seasonal six-month rotations in Penghu from April through October, they now operate year-round from the island base. Defense officials attribute this strategic shift to the heightened frequency of Chinese military aircraft operating near Taiwan's airspace, part of Beijing's ongoing campaign of pressure against the self-governing island that China claims as its territory. ★
