July 23, 2014 - 18:12 AMT
47 dead as Transasia Airways plane makes emergency landing in Taiwan

A Transasia Airways plane crashed when making an emergency landing in Penghu, Taiwan, on Wednesday, July 23, killing 47 people, according to Taiwan News.

Flight GE 222 was carrying 54 passengers and four crew members during stormy weather in the wake of Typhoon Matmo.

The Penghu Fire Department chief was quoted as saying 51 people died.

A first attempt at landing reportedly failed, and the pilot then made a request to make a second try. Shortly later, contact with the flight was lost.

The plane reportedly smashed hard into the ground in the township of Huhsi, causing a fire involving two homes. Online pictures showed a heavily damaged house and wreckage from the plane.

Over the past 13 years, TransAsia Airways recorded eight accidents, including six with the French-Italian ATR-72.

Photo: Jacques Panas