Facts about aircraft ATR-72

This file photo shows an ATR-72 aircraft run by TransAsia Airways at Taipei Songshan Airport in Taiwan. Photo taken on July, 2010.

Air crashes involving aircraft ATR-72

TransAsia Airways has seen three air crashes involving aircraft ATR-72 in recent years.

An ATR 72 aircraft of TransAsia Airways crashed near an airport in Penghu, Taiwan, on July 23, 2014, killing 48 people and left over 10 injured.

Four flight crew members died after an ATR 72 aircraft of TransAsia Airways crashed into a mountain in Taoyuan, Taiwan, on Jan 30, 1995.

Two were killed after an ATR 72 aircraft of TransAsia Airways experienced severe icing and crashed into the sea on December 21, 2002.

Plane's and pilot's history

The aircraft ATR-72 has also seen other seven accidents in the past decade.

The crashed TransAsia plane was in service for less than a year and underwent routine maintenance on Jan 26, 2015, said Lin Zhiming, head of Taiwan aviation authority, during a news conference.

Major accidents involving ATR-72 from other airlines

August 6, 2005, Tunisia’s Tuninter

Sixteen out of 39 people on board were killed when an ATR-72 passenger plane en route to Italy was forced to make an emergency landing at sea after it ran out of fuel.

August 4, 2009, Thailand's Bangkok Airways

One person died and dozens were injured when an ATR72-500 aircraft carrying 72 people overran the runway and caught fire during landing at Samui airport.

November 4, 2010, Cuba’s Aero Caribbean

All 68 people aboard were killed when an ATR72-212 aircraft crashed in the central Cuban province of Sancti Spíritus.

April 2, 2012, Russia's UTair

32 people were killed and 11 people were injured when an ATR72-212 aircraft crashed in Siberia shortly after taking off.

October 16, 2013, the Lao Airlines

All 44 passengers and five crew members aboard were killed when the ATR-72 aircraft crashed in the southern province of Champasak after running into extreme weather conditions.

TransAsia Airways

Founded in 1951 as Taiwan's first private civilian-operated domestic airline, later expanded to overseas routes.

One of the region's smaller carriers though has rapidly expanded in recent years.

Has about 20 planes in its fleet - a mix of Airbus and dual-propeller ATR planes.

Gained popularity due to its low-cost tickets.

Flies many routes between Taiwan and Chinese mainland, and to other parts of South East Asia.