Taiwan invites mainland experts to assist with investigation of crashed plane

Taiwan's aviation authority says it will invite mainland experts to join the investigation there. 31 mainland tourists were on board the plane. In the last hour, TransAsia airways and Taiwan's Civil Aviation authorities have held a press conference.

The heads of the airline onced again offered apologies to the relatives of the passengers and public. They say they will do their utmost to compensate the families. It also clarified issues related to the crashed plane's engines, one of which was replaced in Macao last year. They reiterated that both engines were functioning just fine.

"As for why the two engines have a difference in their flight hours. One engine had some 1,260 hours. That's because it is the one that plane left the factory with. And we already reported yesterday, that the other engine was changed in Macao. PWC offered us the new engine. So there's 400 hours difference between the flight time of the two engines. This won't affect the plane's performance," says Wu Husheng, general manager of Transasia Airways.

The pilot of the crashed plane, 42-year-old Liao Chien-tsung, is being hailed as a hero, for steering the plane away from high-rise buildings.

Experts say the pilot appears to have made a conscious effort to avoid further casualties, by deliberately ditching in the river.

Many people have been praising his actions, and posting their comments and condolences on social media sites.