Taiwan’s Chief of the General Staff among high-ranking military officers died in a helicopter crash.

Eight passengers including Taiwan’s Chief of Staff died in a helicopter crash in the mountains of northern Taiwan this morning.

Shen Yi-Ming abroad to an Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter.

Shen and several top military officials were on a routine mission to visit soldiers in the northeast Yilan country.

The helicopter took off from Songshan Air Force Base bound for a base in Yilan’s Dong’ao for an inspection.

For unknown reasons, communication with the helicopter was lost.

It apparently made a forced landing in the mountains of New Taipei City’s Wulai District.

Taiwan’s military chief of staff, 8 others killed after helicopter crash

At a press conference, Air Force Commander-in-Chief Hsiung Hou-chi said that the last communication with the crew took place at 8:06 a.m.

The aircraft disappeared from radar screens at 8:07 a.m, he said.

The helicopter last sighted on radar at 105 degrees/16 nautical miles in the mountainous Wulai area of New Taipei City, Hsiung Hou-chi told.

In addition to the three crew members, nine military officers were on board.

Hsiung said that four aircraft and 111 search and rescue personnel dispatched to the scene.