Taiwan grounds Mirages after one feared crashed

Taiwan grounds Mirages after one feared crashed
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

TAIPEI, DECEMBER 14: The Taiwanese air force has grounded its Mirage fleet after one was feared to have crashed off the northeastern part of the island on Tuesday, officials said.

"All the Mirages have been grounded for a comprehensive safety check," air force Colonel Chin Ping-Ho told reporters. "Hopefully the cause of the accident will be found as soon s possible," he said.

Air force spokesman Major General Lai Chin-Chun said that the Mirage lost contact at around 10.53 am off Suao on a routine training mission. ``Two S70-C helicopters and a C-130 transport aircraft have since been sent there to search the waters...but there has been no sign of the plane and the pilot so far," Lai said.