TransAsia flight GE235 crash caused by human error, report is expected to say

The investigation into the TransAsia Airways flight GE235 crash in Taiwan this February will show that the crew shut off the plane's working engine after the other lost power, a source has indicated. 

 

The crash – which was captured on video as it dramatically clipped a bridge – landed in Taipei's Keelung River, killing 43 people out of 58 passengers and crew on board. 

 

The video showed the moment the plane flew between buildings, clipped an overpass and knocked a taxi with one of its wings and then crashed upside down into a shallow river in Taipei. 

 

The almost-new plane could have flown on one engine but stalled and crashed shortly after the functioning engine was switch off, the source told Reuters. 

 

"The pilots made a mistake … what makes this even more unbelievable, and unfortunate, was that the mistakes took place even though there were three pilots in the cockpit," said a source, who asked to remain anonymous. 

 

TransAsia declined to comment. The official report by the Aviation Safety Council will not be made public until Thursday. 

 

As a result the focus of the investigation “has been narrowed to the pilots and pilot training at TransAsia."

 

TransAsia's 55 pilots have been put through further tests around how to handle aircraft during an engine failure. All but one of the pilots passed the tests, although some needed more than one attempt. The lone failure was demoted in rank to vice captain from captain.