China Airlines flight missing

A China Airlines flight with 222 people on board has been reported missing for nearly an hour, it was reported today.

The plane took off at about 3.30pm (0830 Irish time) from Taipei’s international airport and was reported missing near Penghu at about 4.15pm (0915 Irish time), a group of islands off Taiwan’s western coast, TVBS reported.

It could not be seen on radar, the report said.

It said 203 passengers and 19 crew were on Flight C1611, a Boeing 747, the news report said.

China Airlines, Taiwan’s national flag-carrier, did not immediately comment on the report.

Due to a series of crashes in the 1990s, China Airlines used to be considered one of the world’s most dangerous airlines. But in recent years, the carrier has reshuffled its board and has put a greater emphasis on safety.

The last known fatal China Airlines accident was in 1999 when a jet flipped over and burst into flames during a crash landing in Hong Kong, killing three people.

According to the aviation safety website, Airsafe.com, China Airlines has had nine fatal accidents since 1970.