Rescue workers are frantically trying to reach the survivors of a TransAsia Airways plane that crashed into a river in Taiwan.
At least 31 people were killed in the incident and rescue efforts are still ongoing as rescuers cut open the fuselage of the plane to reach those trapped inside.
The ATR 72 prop-jet aircraft was flying on its side, with one wing scraping past Taiwan's National Freeway No. 1 just seconds before it plunged into the river, local television images showed. It was the airline's second French-Italian-built ATR 72 to crash in the past year.
Taiwan's civil aviation authority said at least 31 people were killed and 12 people are still missing.
Plane crashes in to river in Taipei
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Rescuers check the wreckage of the TransAsia ATR 72-600 on the Keelung river at New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 23 people were killed when a passenger plane operated by TransAsia Airways clipped an overpass soon after take-off and plunged into a river in Taiwan, the airline's second crash in seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
(02 of26)
Rescuers search for pieces of the wreckage of the TransAsia ATR 72-600 in the Keelung river at New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 23 people were killed when a passenger plane operated by TransAsia Airways clipped an overpass soon after take-off and plunged into a river in Taiwan, the airline's second crash in seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
(03 of26)
Rescuers lift the wreckage of the TransAsia ATR 72-600 oot of the Keelung river at New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 23 people were killed when a passenger plane operated by TransAsia Airways clipped an overpass soon after take-off and plunged into a river in Taiwan, the airline's second crash in seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
(04 of26)
Rescuers lift the wreckage of the TransAsia ATR 72-600 out of the Keelung river at New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 23 people were killed when a passenger plane operated by TransAsia Airways clipped an overpass soon after take-off and plunged into a river in Taiwan, the airline's second crash in seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
(05 of26)
Rescuers check the wreckage of the TransAsia ATR 72-600 on the Keelung river at New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 23 people were killed when a passenger plane operated by TransAsia Airways clipped an overpass soon after take-off and plunged into a river in Taiwan, the airline's second crash in seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
(06 of26)
(credit:Top Photo / Barcroft Media)
(07 of26)
SONGSHAN, TAIPEI, TAIWAN - 2015/02/04: Rescue divers near the scene of an air crash. TransAsia Airways flight GE235 crashed soon after takeoff from Songshan Airport. The ATR-72 airplane carrying 53 passengers and 5 crew went down in the Keelung River to the east of the airport. At filing time, 13 were confirmed killed and 29 were still trapped in the wreckage. (Photo by Craig Ferguson/LightRocket via Getty Images) (credit:Craig Ferguson via Getty Images)
(08 of26)
SONGSHAN, TAIPEI, TAIWAN - 2015/02/04: TransAsia Airways flight GE235 crashed soon after takeoff from Songshan Airport. The ATR-72 airplane carrying 53 passengers and 5 crew went down in the Keelung River to the east of the airport. At filing time, 13 were confirmed killed and 29 were still trapped in the wreckage. (Photo by Craig Ferguson/LightRocket via Getty Images) (credit:Craig Ferguson via Getty Images)
(09 of26)
TAIPEI, TAIWAN - FEBRUARY 04: Rescue personnel, military and members of the media line up along the shore as rescue operations continue to free passengers from a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane (not pictured) that crash-landed into a river (at L) outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. The low-flying passenger plane, TransAsia Flight GE235 with 58 people on board, clipped a road bridge and plunged into the river outside Taiwan's capital with at least three feared dead and dozens trapped inside. (Photo by Ashley Pon/Getty Images) (credit:Ashley Pon via Getty Images)
(10 of26)
Rescue personnel in a rubber dinghy lift a passenger (bottom C) from the waters around the wreckage of a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane that crash-landed into the Keelung river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 16 people were killed when TransAsia Aiways Flight GE235 with 58 people on board clipped a road bridge and plunged into the river in Taiwan, in the airline's second crash in just seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
(11 of26)
Police check a bridge which was damaged when a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane clipped it and crashed into the Keelung river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 16 people were killed when TransAsia Aiways Flight GE235 with 58 people on board clipped the road bridge and plunged into the river in Taiwan, in the airline's second crash in just seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
(12 of26)
Rescue personnel search for passengers from the wreckage of a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane that crash-landed into the Keelung river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 16 people were killed when TransAsia Aiways Flight GE235 with 58 people on board clipped a road bridge and plunged into the river in Taiwan, in the airline's second crash in just seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
(13 of26)
Rescue personnel in a rubber dinghy lift a passenger (bottom C) from the waters around the wreckage of a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane that crash-landed into the Keelung river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. At least 16 people were killed when TransAsia Aiways Flight GE235 with 58 people on board clipped a road bridge and plunged into the river in Taiwan, in the airline's second crash in just seven months. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
(14 of26)
Rescue personnel work to free passengers from a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane that crash-landed into a river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. The passenger plane with 58 people on board was on a domestic flight when it plunged into the river, with at least 10 people rescued and dozens trapped inside, according to television reports. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
(15 of26)
Rescue personnel work to free passengers from a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane that crash-landed into a river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. The low-flying passenger plane, TransAsia Flight GE235 with 58 people on board, clipped a road bridge and plunged into the river outside Taiwan's capital with at least three feared dead and dozens trapped inside. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
(16 of26)
Rescue personnel wait with passengers to be transported to land from the wreckage of a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane that crash-landed into a river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. The low-flying passenger plane, TransAsia Flight GE235 with 58 people on board, clipped a road bridge and plunged into the river outside Taiwan's capital with at least nine feared dead and many trapped inside. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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An injured passenger (C) is helped onto land by emergency personnel along the river bank after a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane crash-landed into the Keelung river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. The low-flying passenger plane, TransAsia Flight GE235 with 58 people on board, clipped a road bridge and plunged into the river outside Taiwan's capital with at least nine feared dead and many trapped inside. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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An injured passenger (L) is escorted by emergency personnel up the river bank after a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane crash-landed into the Keelung river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. The low-flying passenger plane, TransAsia Flight GE235 with 58 people on board, clipped a road bridge and plunged into the river outside Taiwan's capital with at least nine feared dead and many trapped inside. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
(19 of26)
TAIPEI, TAIWAN - FEBRUARY 04: Rescue teams work to free people from a TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 turboprop airplane that crashed into the Keelung River shortly after takeoff from Taipei Songshan airport on February 4, 2015 in Taipei, Taiwan. Over 50 people were onboard the aircraft when it clipped a bridge and crashed into the river. Twelve deaths have currently been reported. (Photo by Ashley Pon/Getty Images) (credit:Ashley Pon via Getty Images)
(20 of26)
TAIPEI, TAIWAN - FEBRUARY 04: A rescue crew carries a window from a TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 turboprop airplane that crashed into the Keelung River shortly after takeoff from Taipei Songshan airport on February 4, 2015 in Taipei, Taiwan. Over 50 people were onboard the aircraft when it clipped a bridge and crashed into the river. Twelve deaths have currently been reported. (Photo by Ashley Pon/Getty Images) (credit:Ashley Pon via Getty Images)
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This general view shows the rescue operations around the wreckage of a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane (C) that crash-landed into the Keelung river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. The low-flying passenger plane, TransAsia Flight GE235 with 58 people on board, clipped a road bridge and plunged into the river outside Taiwan's capital with at least 11 feared dead and many trapped inside. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
(22 of26)
Rescue personnel work to free passengers from a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane (C-in water) that crash-landed into a river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei in New Taipei City on February 4, 2015. The passenger plane with 58 people on board was on a domestic flight when it plunged into the river, with at least 10 people rescued and dozens trapped inside, according to television reports. AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAM YEH via Getty Images)
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TAIPEI, TAIWAN - FEBRUARY 04: Parts of TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 turboprop airplane on the ground where they fell when the aircraft crashed into the Keelung River shortly after takeoff from Taipei Songshan airport on February 4, 2015 in Taipei, Taiwan. Over 50 people were onboard the aircraft when it clipped a bridge and crashed into the river. Twelve deaths have currently been reported. (Photo by Ashley Pon/Getty Images) (credit:Ashley Pon via Getty Images)
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TAIPEI, TAIWAN - FEBRUARY 04: Rescue team carrry a window from a TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 turboprop airplane that crashed into the Keelung River shortly after takeoff from Taipei Songshan airport on February 4, 2015 in Taipei, Taiwan. Over 50 people were onboard the aircraft when it clipped a bridge and crashed into the river. Twelve deaths have currently been reported. (Photo by Ashley Pon/Getty Images) (credit:Ashley Pon via Getty Images)
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TAIPEI, TAIWAN - FEBRUARY 04: A rescue crew carries a victim from a TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 turboprop airplane that crashed into the Keelung River shortly after takeoff from Taipei Songshan airport on February 4, 2015 in Taipei, Taiwan. Over 50 people were onboard the aircraft when it clipped a bridge and crashed into the river. Twelve deaths have currently been reported. (Photo by Ashley Pon/Getty Images) (credit:Ashley Pon via Getty Images)
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SONGSHAN, TAIPEI, TAIWAN - 2015/02/04: TransAsia Airways flight GE235 crashed soon after takeoff from Songshan Airport. The ATR-72 airplane carrying 53 passengers and 5 crew went down in the Keelung River to the east of the airport. At filing time, 13 were confirmed killed and 29 were still trapped in the wreckage. (Photo by Craig Ferguson/LightRocket via Getty Images) (credit:Craig Ferguson via Getty Images)
Civil aviation officials said the flight took off at 10:53 a.m. and lost contact with controllers two minutes later. Thirty-one passengers were from China, Taiwan's tourism bureau said. Kinmen's airport is a common link between Taipei and China's Fujian province.
Rescuers were pulling luggage from an open plane door to clear the fuselage, and Wu said they planned to build a pontoon bridge to facilitate those efforts.
The plane's wing also hit a taxi, the driver of which was injured, on the freeway just before it crashed into the river, Taiwanese broadcaster TVBS reported.
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said it had sent 165 people and eight boats to the riverside rescue scene, joining fire department rescue crews.