TransAsia plane crashes in Taiwan

Debris from TransAsia flight GE222 in Taiwan's Penghu county. (Photo: Shanghai Morning Post)

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12.44AM: Caijing.com.cn reports that rescuers are now using heavy equipment to break the wreckage of the plane so that they can search for survivors.

There are conflicting reports on whether there were residents on the ground injured in the crash. Outlook Weekly says no residents were hurt, but caijing.com.cn reports that five people on the ground were sent to the hospital.

12:21AM: China's Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Zhang Zhijun expresses his condolences over those killed in the crash. He also sends his regards to the injured and their relatives. In addition, he says China is willing to extend help if Taiwan requires it - caijing.com.cn

12.09AM: Firefighters say the rescue effort was hindered by poor lighting and heavy rain. In addition, rescuers had to continuously douse the crash site with water to cool it down before they could access the plane's interior - caijing.com.cn

JULY 24 12.00AM: Survivor claims that the plane had exploded in mid-air. According to caijing.com.cn, she had phoned her mother at the hospital, saying there was a short lapse in time between the crash and when the plane exploded and burst into flames.

11.52PM: Video from Xu Yi Min reportedly shows rescue efforts at the crash site, which is located in a residential area.

11.48PM: Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chu will head to Kaohsiung airport tonight to meet relatives of those on board GE222 - chinanews.com

11.27PM: According to chinanews.com, weeping relatives have arrived at Kaohsiung Xiaogang airport.

Shanghai Morning Post reports that two of the passengers were French tourists. It also said 26 bodies have been sent to the morgue.

11.25PM: TransAsia says the injured have been sent to hospital, and the airline has set up an emergency centre. It does not confirm the number of casualties - there are still conflicting reports about this from both media sources and Taiwan authorities. 

11.18PM: A Taiwan investigation team will head to Penghu tonight to start probe; Taiwan has sent 200 troops to help rescue efforts. The black box has been found and will be kept with Penghu county police - Caijing.com.cn

11.10PM: The plane was unable to land on its first attempt and later lost contact with air traffic control - CTITV

11.10PM: Taiwan transport minister Yeh Kuang-shih says that they may have found one of the black boxes. 

11.05PM: TransAsia has released the list of names of passengers on the flight. Relatives have rushed to the airport upon hearing news of the crash – Shanghai Morning Post

At a press conference, TransAsia's general manager bows in apology to relatives of GE222 passengers. The airline says it will bring relatives to Penghu Magong airport tomorrow. Rescue efforts are ongoing – People’s Daily

11PM: Malaysia Airlines, which has suffered the devastating losses of MH370 and MH17 this year, tweets a message of support for TransAsia. 

10.50PM: Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou: This is a very painful day in Taiwan's aviation history, the whole of Taiwan is in mourning. He will offer the best support and help to both the survivors and casualties - China Business Journal

10.45PM: Shanghai Morning Post reports that eyewitnesses heard two explosions at the time of the crash and saw injured people staggering out of the plane. 

10.40PM: "51 people are feared dead and seven people injured," says Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration. But the local fire chief put the death toll at 45, according to AFP. 

10.30PM: Firefighters are still dousing the plane to cool it down; it crashed in a residential area and caused houses to collapsed, but no news if there are casualties inside - People's Daily. 

9.56PM: China Business Journal says authorities have confirmed 47 people are dead, and two are in critical condition. It also reported that two residential properties have been damaged, but no one was inside at the time of the incident.

9.41PM: Weibo Breaking News reports that witnesses saw seven of the injured crawling out of the crashed plane and they were rescued by residents. When emergency services arrived, the plane was almost completely charred.

Shanghai Morning Post says the pilot of the aircraft had 23,000 hours of flying experience and the co-pilot had 22,000 hours of flying experience.

9.38PM: According to People's Daily, it is still raining heavily, and all of the injured have been sent to hospital. People's Daily also said the number of dead cannot be confirmed as of yet.

9.34PM: Aircraft crashed from about 28 metres above the ground. Taiwan media understands that the plane did not skid; the cockpit hit the ground first and burst into flames.

9.25PM: According to TVBS reports, TransAsia flight GE222 travelling from Kaohsiung to Penghu suddenly made an emergency landing at 5.43pm. There were 58 people on board (50 adult passengers, 4 children and 4 crew). 51 reported dead and 7 injured. Chinese media say it was forced to make an emergency landing due to bad weather.