《TAIPEI TIMES》AEW hard landing due to pilot error, report says

Staff writer, with 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 the Central News Agency yesterday.

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The incident occurred when the No. 2503 aircraft skidded off the runway during landing at an airbase in Pingtung County on Nov. 25.

No one was injured, the Air Force Command Headquarters said.

The Chinese-language United Daily News on Tuesday quoted anonymous sources as saying that the incident was caused by human error rather than a mechanical malfunction, as the pilots failed to lower the landing gear in time.

Asked about the report, a military source yesterday said the initial findings in an investigation into the incident showed that it was likely caused by pilot error, without elaborating.

The two pilots on board the plane at the time of the incident have since been grounded, pending the results of the investigation, the source said.

An ad hoc investigation committee was formed following the incident, they said.

The air force also invited representatives from Northrop Grumman, the aircraft’s manufacturer, to join the probe, the source said.

The air force is also taking measures to improve training for its pilots to avoid similar incidents, the source said.

The E-2 Hawkeye is an all-weather, carrier-capable tactical aircraft built by Northrop Grumman.

The air force operates six of the aircraft.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES