Taipei: The Control Yuan on Thursday proposed corrective measures against the Air Force, citing serious shortcomings in risk management and maintenance procedures related to a January training accident that killed F-16V pilot Hsin Po-yi. Hsin's fighter jet crashed during a nighttime training mission off eastern Taiwan, and despite search and rescue operations, his body was never recovered.
According to Focus Taiwan, Control Yuan members Yeh Yi-jin and Lai Ting-ming stated that although analysis of the aircraft's flight data recorder, or "black box," was not yet complete, available evidence indicated repeated navigation-system malfunctions in the week leading up to the accident. Despite troubleshooting procedures and safety checks by Air Force maintenance personnel, the investigation concluded that the military failed to adequately assess and control the risks associated with conducting a nighttime flight under those circumstances.
The investigation also uncovered multiple violations of maintenance regulations, such as incomplete maintenance records and improper preservation of crash-related evidence, prompting the need for corrective measures. Available records revealed Hsin switched to visual formation flying after the aircraft's navigation system malfunctioned, leading to his separation from the lead aircraft, spatial disorientation, and ultimately, the crash.
The Control Yuan members also referenced a December 2023 F-16 accident at the U.S. Air Force's Kunsan Air Base in South Korea, where a pilot safely ejected following a navigation-system malfunction. They noted that the U.S. military's "leave no one behind" culture emphasizes conservative flight dispatch decisions and rigorous maintenance practices, suggesting Taiwan's Air Force adopt a similar safety culture.
The Control Yuan addressed cold-weather flight suits and the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS), two issues that gained public attention post-crash. Investigators found that Hsin was issued a cold-weather flight suit, which would only be effective had he successfully ejected, thus absolving the Air Force of misconduct in this regard. Regarding Auto GCAS, they noted ongoing technical challenges and urged the Air Force to expedite its implementation with U.S. partners to enhance the safety of Taiwan's F-16 fleet.
In response, Air Force Command expressed respect for the Control Yuan's proposals and has already commenced reviews of its procedures, including nighttime flight risk management and maintenance practices. The crash remains under investigation by a dedicated task force, and efforts are underway to strengthen personnel training, enhance maintenance oversight, and accelerate Auto GCAS implementation.
Hsin, 29, took off from Hualien Air Base on Jan. 16 for the mission. At 7:27 p.m., he reported separation from the lead aircraft before the jet lost altitude. He announced his intention to eject shortly before the aircraft disappeared from radar. Hsin was posthumously promoted, awarded the Order of Loyalty and Valor, and honored with a presidential citation from President Lai Ching-te at his funeral on July 19.
Under the Control Act, the Control Yuan can propose corrective measures to the Executive Yuan or subordinate agencies after identifying deficiencies through investigations. Agencies must implement improvements or take appropriate action and report back to the Control Yuan within two months in a written document.