Two pilots killed in Taiwan Air Force trainer crash; families mourn at soul-summoning ceremony

Two Lieutenant Colonels of the Taiwanese Air Force, Kuo Chun-nan and Lu Chi-yu, died tragically when their T-34C primary trainer aircraft crashed during a simulated engine failure exercise on June 2, 2026. The aircraft broke into several pieces upon impact, and the pilots sustained severe injuries and burns.

Authorities arranged for the families of the deceased pilots to conduct a soul-summoning ceremony at the crash site early on June 3. The atmosphere was somber as family members tearfully called out the names of their loved ones, a scene that deeply moved observers.

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The pilots, Lieutenant Colonels Kuo Chun-nan and Lu Chi-yu, died tragically yesterday. Families completed the soul-summoning ceremony with grief this morning.

An initial investigation and autopsy were conducted by prosecutors, police, and military investigators. The fragmented remains of the pilots made identification difficult, with authorities relying on name tags to identify Lu. DNA testing will be used to confirm identities and determine the exact cause of death. A further autopsy is scheduled for the afternoon of June 3.

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The two pilots suffered severe impact and burns, and their bodies were fragmented.