Did Navy Not Report Helicopter Accident Immediately? 海軍S-70C重摔 傳第一時間未通報國防部

A Navy S-70C helicopter crashed at Zuoying Naval Base on June 22. According to media reports, the Navy did not report the accident immediately. The Ministry of National Defense wasn't aware that an accident had occurred until the Armed Forces Joint Operations Command Center performed an online search. The Navy responded that it reported the accident immediately in accordance with regulations. 

Chang Yen-ting, Former Air Force Deputy Commander: “(One hour) is way too long. It takes 10 seconds to make a call to the commanding officer. That's what it was like when I was at the service academy.”

Former Air Force Deputy Commander Chang Yen-ting previously served as the superintendent of the Air Force Academy, and during that time there was an accident with a plane. Chang said he reported the accident as soon as he was notified. A Navy S-70C helicopter crashed at Zuoying Naval Base on June 22. United Daily News reported that the helicopter crashed at 3:55 p.m., but the Navy didn't immediately report the accident. At 4:30 p.m., the Armed Forces Joint Operations Command Center searched online and found that there was a column of smoke ascending next to the base. It contacted the Navy at 5 p.m. to find out more, and it wasn't until after that, more than one hour after the accident, that the Ministry of National Defense became aware of the incident.

Chang Yen-ting, Former Air Force Deputy Commander: “According to the procedures of administrative systems, the five major reporting systems all failed. This is a very serious matter. Imagine what would happen if this occurred during wartime.”

Chang said it's impossible to conceal a major event like this, and commanding officers need to quickly report to their superiors. He thinks it's unreasonable that the MND didn't know until one hour later. A delay may have occurred because officers and soldiers feared they would get punished. Meanwhile, a legislator said the military needs to investigate thoroughly.

Wang Ting-yu, Legislator (DPP): “Was there a delay in the reporting system? Was there the intent to make a big issue into a small issue into a non-issue in the report content? We demand military units to investigate.”

Chiang Cheng-kuo, Navy Chief of Staff: “After the incident occurred, the command reported it to all levels using existing systems in accordance with regulations. We will include this in our investigation.”

The Navy said it will investigate. Taiwan's S-70C helicopters have been in use for over 30 years. The military wanted to replace them with MH-60R anti-submarine helicopters purchased from the U.S., but the price tag was too high. When asked whether it will restart negotiations because of the accident, the Navy said it is aiming for a reliable anti-submarine aviation group that conforms to the requirements of defensive combat and there are no issues with personnel.

前空軍副司令張延廷表示：「（一個小時）太誇張了啦，10秒鐘我立刻打電話給司令，我在官校就是這樣子。」

回憶自己擔任空軍官校校長時也曾掉過飛機，張延廷表示接到消息馬上上報，而這次海軍S-70C在左營基地重落地，聯合報報導昨日下午3時55分直升機迫降，海軍沒有第一時間通報，衡山指揮所下午4時半網搜發現營區旁冒出濃煙，5時向海軍查詢後國防部才知情，已是事發後一個多小時。

張延廷指出：「按照行政系統尋系回報，所以5大系統通通失靈了，5大系統失靈的狀況之下，是非常嚴重的事情，平常則已打仗的時候不得了。」

張延廷認為這種大事不可能隱匿，司令應該要迅速上報，1個小時後國防部才知情不合理，延遲通報很有可能是因為官兵擔心會受罰，不過立委也認為國軍應該要好好徹查。民進黨立委王定宇認為，通報系統是否有延誤，以及通報的內容是否有大事化小、小事化無的心態，這個部分也會要求軍方單位要確實的查明。

海軍司令部參謀長蔣正國指出：「事件發生以後，本部依照規定，循系統向各級來實施回報，在這一部分我們也會列入調查。」

海軍表示會進行調查，另外S-70C服役已經超過30年，國軍原本想向美國採購MH-60R反潛直升機，卻因美方報價過高而告吹，這次是否重起採購案，海軍表示將依防衛作戰需求，爭取可恃的反潛航空兵力。目前並無反潛人力流失問題。