TransAsia Airways Flight 235, operating an ATR 72-600 aircraft, took off from Taipei Songshan Airport bound for Kinmen, an island off the southwestern coast of Taiwan. Shortly after takeoff, the plane experienced a loss of power to one of its engines. Inexperienced flying, combined with failing to follow standard procedures during an emergency, led to the plane’s rapid descent. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft clip a taxi and strike the Keelung River, resulting in the aircraft breaking apart on impact. Out of the 58 individuals aboard, 43 perished in the crash, including passengers and crew members. Emergency services quickly mobilized to recover victims from the river, while investigations commenced to uncover the causes of this dire situation.

In the aftermath of the crash, both local and international investigations were launched, focusing on the pilot's actions and the airline's compliance with aviation safety regulations. Preliminary findings indicated that the flight crew may have underestimated the engine's malfunction and failed to execute proper emergency procedures. The crash raised alarms within the aviation community regarding the operating standards of TransAsia Airways, which had faced scrutiny in prior incidents as well. Subsequently, the Taiwanese aviation authorities and TransAsia initiated stricter protocols to enhance safety measures and ensure that similar tragedies would be avoided in the future.