Taiwan Plane Crash Kills at Least 9

A Taiwanese commercial airplane carrying 58 people clipped a bridge and crashed into a river outside the capital Taipei early Wednesday, killing at least nine people, according to state media.

Chilling dashcam videos and images posted on social media showed the TransAsia Airways ATR-72 at a 90 degree angle as its wing grazed the bridge and plunged into the Keelung River.

Rescuers in several boats have surrounded the partially submerged plane. Several of those on board have been pulled to safety. Local media report an unknown number of passengers remain trapped inside.

Officials say at least 31 of the passengers were tourists from mainland China. The plane was flying from Taipei to the outlying islands of Kinmen.

It is not clear what caused the crash, which occurred during relatively clear weather.

Taiwan aeronautics officials say the plane was less than a year old and last completed its safety checks on January 26.

It is the second ATR-72 to crash in Taiwan in as many years. Last July, one of the French-made twin-engine turboprops crashed during poor weather near the airport on the island of Penghu, killing 48 people.

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