Emergency landing goes wrong

The plane, travelling from a southern Taiwan city to the Penghu islands, was attempting an emergency landing amid adverse weather conditions

Rescue workers work next to the wreckage of TransAsia Airways flight GE222 on Wednesday.

At least 47 people were feared killed when a TransAsia Airways turboprop aircraft crash landed on an island off Taiwan’s west coast amid adverse weather conditions on account of a typhoon.

The ATR 72 turboprop, belonging to Taiwan-based TransAsia Airways, was carrying 54 passengers and four crew on board as it attempted to land on a runway on the Penghu islands west of Taiwan.

Taiwan’s transportation authority said in a statement the plane, travelling from the southern Taiwan city of Kaohsiung to the Penghu islands, was attempting an emergency landing when it crashed on Wednesday evening.

The typhoon Matmo struck Taiwan earlier in the day, bringing rain and strong winds. Many flights had been delayed or cancelled because of the weather. TransAsia flight GE222 had also been delayed by close to two hours in Kaohsiung because of adverse conditions.

Taiwan aviation officials told reporters the plane had first attempted to circle around the airport on Penghu, before losing contact with air traffic control and subsequently attempting to land.