Taiwan plane crash 'kills dozens'

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A passenger plane has crashed after a failed emergency landing in Taiwan, killing more than 40 people, local officials say.

The domestic TransAsia Airways flight crashed near Magong airport on the outlying Penghu island, reports said.

There were a total of 54 passengers and four crew on board, Taiwan's CNA news agency reported.

Aviation officials said flight GE222 aborted its initial landing and then crashed, local media reported.

Fifty-one people were feared dead and seven were injured, CNA reported, citing fire department officials.

Firefighters and other emergency personnel are still attempting to rescue those on board.

Local firefighters say the plane did not reach the airport landing strip, but crashed nearby, losing contact with flight radars for a few moments before the crash, the BBC's Cindy Sui in Taipei reports.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing a big fire from the scene of the crash, our correspondent adds.

David Vargas, a spokesman for plane manufacturer ATR, told the BBC's Chinese service: "We are aware of the crash. We are trying to get more information and confirm what went wrong."

(BBC)