Two Pilots Die in Taiwan Air Force Trainer Crash; Maintenance Budget Delayed

A T-34C trainer aircraft crashed at the Air Force Academy in Gangshan, Taiwan, on June 2, 2026, during a "simulated engine failure route training." The two pilots on board, Lieutenant Colonels Lu Chi-yu and Kuo Chun-nan, were killed in the accident.

The crash has reignited concerns about the logistical maintenance of the air force's trainer aircraft. This year, the Ministry of National Defense allocated a budget exceeding 1 billion New Taiwan dollars for T-34C maintenance. However, the legislative review of the central government's budget for 2026 is still incomplete, impacting the progress of these essential repairs.

Typically, the central government's budget is passed by the end of the preceding year to ensure smooth operations. But with nearly half of 2026 gone, the budget review remains stalled in the Legislative Yuan. This delay directly affects the "Procurement and Maintenance of T-34C Aircraft Parts" project.

The budget breakdown reveals significant allocations for critical components. Over 450 million NT dollars are designated for the "PT6A-25A Engine Airframe Parts" procurement. Another 506.62 million NT dollars are allocated for "Eleventh Maintenance and Supply Group Commissioned Private Operation (Open-ended Contract)" for fleet maintenance. Funds are also earmarked for fuselage and safety parts, including "T-34C Aircraft Fuselage Open Supply" (39.07 million NT dollars), "Inertial Reel 20 Items 140 Units" (10.95 million NT dollars), and "Starter Generator and Other 4 Items 26 Units Commercial Repair (Open-ended Contract)" (6 million NT dollars). Additionally, 2.79 million NT dollars are budgeted for revising technical documents for "PT6A-25A and 65B Engine O/I/D Level Technical Documents."

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A T-34C trainer aircraft crashed at the Air Force Academy in Gangshan, Taiwan, during a "simulated engine failure route training." The two pilots on board, Lieutenant Colonels Lu Chi-yu and Kuo Chun-nan, were killed in the accident.