TransAsia Airways

TransAsia Airways was a Taiwanese regional airline that operated scheduled and charter passenger services primarily within Taiwan and across short-haul routes in Asia. Founded in 1951, it was one of Taiwan's oldest airlines and served destinations including mainland China, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, as well as domestic routes between Taipei, Kaohsiung, and the outlying islands. The airline gained international attention following two fatal accidents in quick succession: the crash of GE222 in July 2014 on Penghu Island, and the dramatic crash of GE235 into the Keelung River near Taipei in February 2015, both involving ATR turboprop aircraft. These accidents resulted in significant loss of life and triggered intense scrutiny of the airline's safety and pilot training standards. Facing mounting financial losses, reputational damage from the accidents, and competitive pressures in the Taiwanese aviation market, TransAsia Airways announced the cessation of all operations on November 22, 2016, and subsequently dissolved. Its sudden closure left thousands of passengers stranded and marked the end of one of Taiwan's longest-operating carriers.