A passenger plane has crashed on a Taiwanese Island, killing more than 40 people, according to local officials. The aircraft, which was reportedly flying in stormy weather from the southern port city of Kaohsiung to the island Penghu, crashed outside Xixi village close to its final destination.
The downed aircraft, a 14-year-old ATR-72 operated by Taiwanese airline TransAsia Airways, had 54 passengers and four crew on board. Transport Minister Yeh Kuang-shih told the state news agency that the crash happened as the plane attempted to make a second landing. Initial reports stated that 51 people had been killed. That number was then revised down to 47.
Speaking to Reuters, Jean Shen, director of the Civil Aeronautics Administration, described the scene as "chaotic", adding that the plane lost contact with the tower having announced that it was to make a second attempt at landing.
According to the Civil Aeronautics Administration, heavy rain could have reduced visibility during the attempted landing.
Taiwan Plane Crash
Taiwan Plane Crash(01 of07)
Open Image ModalSeen in a raining downpour, a vehicle is covered in rubble from the wreckage from a Taiwan domestic airline that crashed while attempting to land in typhoon weather on the Taiwan island of Penghu, 150 kilometers, (93 miles), off Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait between Taiwan and mainland China, late Wednesday, July 23, 2014. Local officials say the domestic airline carrier Trans Asia flight GE 222 crashed on landing with many people feared dead and some injured. (AP Photo/Wong Yao-wen) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Taiwan Plane Crash(02 of07)
Open Image ModalRescue workers survey the wreckage of TransAsia Airways flight GE222 which crashed while attempting to land in stormy weather on the Taiwanese island of Penghu, late Wednesday, July 23, 2014. A plane landing in stormy weather crashed outside an airport on a small Taiwanese island late Wednesday, and a transport minister said dozens of people were trapped and feared dead. (AP Photo/Wong Yao-wen) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Taiwan Plane Crash(03 of07)
Open Image ModalRescue workers work next to the wreckage of TransAsia Airways flight GE222 which crashed while attempting to land in stormy weather on the Taiwanese island of Penghu, late Wednesday, July 23, 2014. A plane landing in stormy weather crashed outside an airport on a small Taiwanese island late Wednesday, and a transport minister said dozens of people were trapped and feared dead. (AP Photo/Wong Yao-wen) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Taiwan Plane Crash(04 of07)
Open Image ModalRescue workers survey the wreckage of TransAsia Airways Flight GE222 which crashed on the Taiwanese island of Penghu Thursday, July 24, 2014. The plane attempting to land in stormy weather crashed on the island late Wednesday, killing more than 40 people and wrecking houses and cars on the ground. (AP Photo) TAIWAN OUT (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Taiwan Plane Crash(05 of07)
Open Image ModalRescue workers survey the wreckage of TransAsia Airways Flight GE222 which crashed on the Taiwanese island of Penghu Thursday, July 24, 2014. The plane attempting to land in stormy weather crashed on the island late Wednesday, killing more than 40 people and wrecking houses and cars on the ground. (AP Photo) TAIWAN OUT (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Taiwan Plane Crash(06 of07)
Open Image ModalRescue workers survey the wreckage of TransAsia Airways Flight GE222 on the Taiwanese island of Penghu Thursday, July 24, 2014. The plane attempting to land in stormy weather crashed on the island late Wednesday, killing more than 40 people and wrecking houses and cars on the ground. (AP Photo) TAIWAN OUT (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Taiwan Plane Crash(07 of07)
Open Image ModalRescue workers survey the wreckage of TransAsia Airways Flight GE222 on the Taiwanese island of Penghu Thursday, July 24, 2014. The plane attempting to land in stormy weather crashed on the island late Wednesday, killing more than 40 people and wrecking houses and cars on the ground. (AP Photo) TAIWAN OUT (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)