Republic of China Air Force T-34 Crash

A T-34C Turbo Mentor of the Republic of China Air Force Academy crashed on the morning of 2 June 2026 near the northern end of the runway at Gangshan Air Base, Kaohsiung, during a simulated engine-failure training exercise. The two-seat trainer, tail number 3414, had departed Runway 36L minutes earlier. Both occupants — a chief flight instructor and an examiner, both lieutenant colonels with over 2,000 hours each on type — were killed. The Air Force reported no anomalies or malfunctions before the crash and grounded its entire T-34C fleet pending safety checks. An investigation was opened, renewing scrutiny over the aging trainer's continued service.