Taiwan's AT-5 Jet Trainer Aircraft Crashes, the First Since 2021

Taiwan’s domestically developed AT-5 Brave Eagle jet trainer crashed on Saturday after reporting engine failure, with the crew ejecting safely, according to the island’s military.

The jet took off from Chihhang airbase in Taitung on Taiwan’s east coast and experienced the failure of both its engines, prompting the crew to bail out. The pilots were rescued, and authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.

This is the first crash involving the AT-5 since its first test flight in 2020 and the first such incident since the aircraft began entering service with Taiwan’s air force in 2021. The setback comes as Taiwan aims to replace ageing AT-3 and U.S.-made F-5 training aircraft, which have suffered multiple crashes in recent years.

The AT-5, developed by Taiwan’s state-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corp with a budget of T$68.6 billion ($2.1 billion), is designed for air-to-air and air-to-ground combat training. It is Taiwan’s first domestically built jet since the F-CK-1 Ching-kuo Indigenous Defence Fighter, introduced more than 30 years ago. The two aircraft share similarities in design and capabilities.

Taiwan’s military plans to acquire 66 AT-5 units by 2026 as part of its efforts to modernize pilot training. The aircraft can operate on short runways and is being tested for potential combat roles, including carrying weapons.