Air Force rebuts report of failed mission to escort President Ma
ROC Central News Agency
2013/01/26 22:37:50
Taipei, Jan. 26 (CNA) The Air Force on Saturday dismissed a report that its jet fighters had failed in a mission to escort President Ma Ying-jeou on a flight between Taiwan proper and the outlying island of Matsu.
One of the two Mirage 2000-5 fighters originally assigned to the mission returned to base after a warning light appeared on its instrument panel, the Air Force said in a statement, adding that at the same time, another Mirage fighter was deployed to take over.
The Air Force stressed that there was no gap in the escort service and that the mission was completed successfully.
The statement was issued in response to a report in the Chinese- language United Evening News on Saturday that one of the Mirage jets in Ma's escort detail had returned to base after a warning light appeared on its instrument panel and that the third plane dispatched to take over had also encountered some problems.
A safety check found no major problems with the first Mirage despite the warning light, the Air Force said.
The aircraft's systems are highly sensitive, which means a warning light could appear for a very minor issue, it said.
(By Elaine Hou)
ENDITEM/ pc
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