The turboprop ATR 72-600 aircraft took off in apparently clear weather. It was a domestic flight for the island of Kinmen. The last communication from one of the aircraft’s pilots was “Mayday Mayday engine flameout,” according to an air traffic control recording. The plane was powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW127M engines. The aircraft last underwent maintenance on Jan. 26. The pilot and the co-pilot were experienced, having 4,916 and respectively 6,922 flying hours. Only fifteen people survived the crash and were rescued from the accident scene. TransAsia is Taiwan’s third-largest carrier. The plane involved in the accident was received in 2014 as part of an order of eight aircraft.
