on its second landing attempt amid stormy weather conditions... killing dozens on board.

On this Thursday... the leaders of China and Taiwan put their political differences aside...

to express their deepest condolences. Our Connie Kim has the story.

A Taiwanese passenger plane crashed Wednesday evening local time, killing at least 48 people

and injuring 10 others on board amid stormy weather as it attempted to make an emergency

landing at Magong Airport on Penghu Island. The TransAsia Airways turboprop was flying

from Taiwan's southwestern Kaohsiung International Airport to Penghu Island off the west coast,...

carrying 58 passengers and crew on board. Struggling to cope with bad weather conditions

brought on by Typhoon Matmo,... the plane crashed on its second attempt to land at the

airport. The Taiwanese government says the ten passengers

who survived the crash have been taken to the hospital.

"Apart from the people who were sent to the hospitals, the remaining passengers probably

died. The fire department just told me that, but we still have to verify the details."

The president of TransAsia Airways expressed deep sorrow over the accident.

"I solemnly apologize to everyone. I apologize for this unfortunate event."

The crashed plane had been in service for 13 years, and the pilot had more than 20 years

of experience and about 23-thousand flying hours.

Taiwan's Aviation Safety Council is investigating whether the weather conditions or human error

caused the accident. Connie Kim, Arirang News.