[Sportschosun Reporter Jang Jong-ho] A fighter jet belonging to the Taiwan Air Force collided with a streetlight during landing on a runway, prompting a military investigation.
Local outlet TVBS News, citing an announcement from the Republic of China Air Force Command, reported that around 3 p.m. on the 17th, an F-16 Fighting Falcon from Hualien Air Base struck the top of a streetlight while conducting takeoff and landing training on a wartime emergency runway after descending too low.
During the training, three F-16 Fighting Falcons attempted to land one after another on the wartime runway near Hualien Airport. The first and third jets landed safely, but the second aircraft reportedly dipped too low just before touchdown, causing its landing gear to scrape the top of a streetlight pole.
The impact caused the streetlight cover to fall off, damaging some civilian vehicles passing on a nearby road, but no injuries were reported. The fighter jet also landed safely, and the pilot was not hurt.
The Taiwan Air Force is now conducting a detailed inspection to determine whether the aircraft was damaged and is investigating the exact cause of the accident.
The Air Force Command said, "We have dispatched a dedicated investigation team to the scene to examine the circumstances of the accident," adding, "Compensation and repairs for damage to public facilities and civilian vehicles will be handled in accordance with relevant regulations."
Reporter Jang Jong-ho bellho@sportschosun.com
