Taiwan grounds Mirages after one feared crashed

TAIPEI, DECEMBER 14: The Taiwanese air force has grounded its Mirage fleet after one was feared to have crashed off the northeastern part of the island on Tuesday, officials said.

quot;All the Mirages have been grounded for a comprehensive safety check,quot; air force Colonel Chin Ping-Ho told reporters. quot;Hopefully the cause of the accident will be found as soon s possible,quot; he said.

Air force spokesman Major General Lai Chin-Chun said that the Mirage lost contact at around 10.53 am off Suao on a routine training mission. 8220;Two S70-C helicopters and a C-130 transport aircraft have since been sent there to search the waters8230;but there has been no sign of the plane and the pilot so far,quot; Lai said.