TransAsia crash pilot mistakenly 'switched off working engine'

International media report that Taiwan's aviation safety counsil (ASC) has released data showing the pilot of a TransAsia plane which crashed in a Taiwan river in February, had switched off the working engine after the other lost power.

Forty-three people lost their lives when the ATR 72-600 aircraft, which can fly with one engine, ended up in a river during a domestic flight from Taipei to Kinmen.

The aircraft, which was carrying some 58 passengers and crew members had clipped a highway before it crashed into the shallow river minutes after take-off.

The ASC’s report also showed that Captain Liao Jian-zong, who was at the controls, had failed simulator training in May 2014, in part because he had insufficient knowledge of how to deal with an engine flame-out on take-off.

The pilot is heard saying: "Wow, pulled back the wrong side throttle," in the cockpit recording, but the ASC does not assign blame for the crash.

The data provided as part of the investigation into the accident follows an initial assessment released days after the crash.

Giving a detailed breakdown of the conversation heard on the cockpit voice recorder between the flying pilot and the co-pilot, the report says the captain is heard saying he pulled back the wrong side throttle while the aircraft was at 309ft (94m), flying at a speed of 105 knots (120mph).

Flight data shows that the plane stalled and crashed shortly after the working engine was switched off.

The ASC said it would put out a final draft in November, with causes and recommendations and that the final report will be published next April.