E-2K aircraft landing incident likely caused by pilot error: Source
ROC Central News Agency
12/21/2022 12:02 PM
Taipei, Dec. 21 (CNA) A bad landing by an Air Force E-2K airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft during a training mission last month was likely caused by pilot error, a military source told CNA on Wednesday.
The incident occurred when a serial No. 2503 aircraft skidded off the runaway during a landing at an airbase in Pingtung County on Nov. 25. No one was injured, according to the Air Force Command Headquarters at the time.
The Chinese-language United Daily News on Tuesday quoted unnamed sources as saying that the incident was caused by human error rather than a mechanical malfunction, as the pilots failed to properly get the landing gear in place before landing.
Asked to comment on the UDN report, a military source on Wednesday confirmed that the initial findings in an investigation into the incident indicated it was likely due to pilot error, but no further details were provided.
The two pilots on board the E-2K have since been grounded, pending the results of the investigation, the source said.
An ad hoc investigative committee was immediately formed following the incident and the Air Force also included representatives from Northrop Grumman, the aircraft's manufacturer, to join the probe, according to the source.
The Air Force is also taking measures to beef up training for its pilots to make sure similar incidents will not happen again, the source said.
The E-2 Hawkeye is an all-weather, carrier-capable tactical AEW aircraft built by Northrop Grumman.
Taiwan's Air Force currently has six E-2Ks.
(By Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh)
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