Taiwan crash investigators to release findings

TAIPEI, Taiwan (CNN) -- Taiwanese officials investigating the crash on take-off of a Singapore Airlines 747 last October are due to release the initial results of their investigations Friday.

The crash, which occurred during heavy rain at Taipei's Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, killed 83 of the 196 passengers on board and left dozens injured.

Details of the report, leaked to Taiwanese newspapers, blame a breakdown in cockpit communication for the crash.

According to the Taipei Times, a navigation display indicating that the plane was on the wrong runway was ignored due to a communications error between the pilot and the first officer.

The paper says the aircraft's first officer informed the captain of an irregularity on the navigation display when going through a pre-flight check-list, but was ignored due to a misunderstanding.

The aircraft then began its take-off run along a runway that was closed for repairs, slamming into concrete barriers and construction equipment and breaking up as it crashed onto the tarmac.

Stormy conditions

At the time the airport was being lashed by heavy rain and strong winds from Typhoon Xangsane, forcing the crew to rely on instruments for ground navigation.

Singapore Airlines, which initially denied that the plane had turned onto the wrong runway, has admitted responsibility for the crash, the first fatal accident in its history.

The aircraft's three-man flight crew were released from detention in Taiwan last December after being held by prosecutors for seven weeks.

The crew have been threatened with criminal charges although investigators have yet to conclude that pilot error was to blame.

Taiwanese prosecutors subsequently toned down their remarks after pilots from more than 30 countries threatened to boycott the airport if the pilots were not released.

Investigators from Taiwan's Aviation Safety Council are expected to announce the initial results of their investigation to a news conference on Friday afternoon local time.

Official: 'Crash pilot on wrong runway'
IN PICTURES: Images of the crash scene

Singapore Airlines
Chiang Kai-shek International Airport
Taiwan Ministry of Transport and Communications

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