Pilot Called 'Mayday', Steered Clear Of Buildings

The TransAsia ATR 72 that went down Wednesday just after takeoff in Taiwan reportedly lost both engines before impacting a bridge and going into the water, according to Taiwanese officials.

At a news conference, Taiwan's top aviation official Thomas Wang said that nothing has been ruled out as a cause of the accident, but what is known is that the pilot called "Mayday, Mayday, engine flameout," before the accident. He was found in the cockpit still holding the airplane's controls by rescue crews, according to a report in USA Today.

Both the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder have been recovered, and confirmed the loss of power. A report that the pilot had said there were problems with one of the planes engines on an earlier flight Wednesday were discounted by Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration. The China Post newspaper had reported that the pilot, identified as 41-year-old Liao Chien-tsung had asked for a maintenance check on the plane, but had been refused as the airline was concerned about being fined for delaying the flight.

There have been 35 confirmed fatalities in the accident, with 15 survivors. Eight are still unaccounted for. Searchers say poor visibility and cold water are hampering the search.

(Image captured on dashcam relayed by Taiwanese Media)

FMI: www.caa.gov.tw/en/index.asp