Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai Pays Respects to Fallen Pilots, Pledges City Support

(Central News Agency, Kaohsiung, June 4) Following a T-34C trainer aircraft crash that resulted in the deaths of two Air Force pilots, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai visited a funeral parlor today to pay his respects and console the families, stating that the city government would provide necessary assistance. The cause of the accident is being investigated by a Ministry of National Defense task force.

Chen visited the Kaohsiung Municipal Funeral Parlor this morning to pay respects to the fallen pilots and console their families. Later, speaking to the media at the Kaohsiung City Council, he expressed profound sorrow and grief over the loss of the two pilots who dedicated their lives to defending the nation. He said he had instructed the city's Civil Affairs Bureau to provide necessary assistance.

Chen mentioned that he had met with Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo and urged the ministry to make the most appropriate arrangements for the funerals and for the future care of the families, including the education of their children. He added that the city's Education Bureau, Social Affairs Bureau, and Civil Affairs Bureau would jointly provide support.

Regarding the cause of the accident, Chen stated that it would be clarified by the Ministry of National Defense's task force.

Lieutenant Colonels Guo Junnan and Lu Jiyou were piloting a T-34C trainer aircraft at the Gangshan Air Base in Kaohsiung on the morning of June 2, conducting a simulated engine failure exercise on a takeoff and landing pattern. The aircraft crashed at the northern end of the base runway 21 minutes after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of both pilots. (Editor: Zhang Mingkun) 1150604