President Tsai Ing-wen honored on Tuesday the fighter pilot who died after his F-5E jet crashed into the sea on October 29. Chu Kuan-meng's jet crashed less than two minutes after taking off. Though he managed to eject from the plane, Chu succumbed to his injuries that day.
At the memorial service for Chu at the Zhi-Hang Air Base in Taitung, Tsai gave Chu a posthumous citation to Chu's wife. Chu was posthumously promoted from the rank of captain to lieutenant colonel.
Air Force chief Hsiung Hou-chi also awarded Chu a posthumous Order of Loyalty and Valor. His father received it on his behalf.
In her address, Tsai thanked Chu for the sacrifices he made to protect the country and said his death was a loss for the nation. She also asked the Ministry of National Defense to provide the best possible care to his family. Chu was 29 years old and is survived by his wife and one year old daughter.
During the memorial service, four F-5 fighter jets flew the missing man formation over the air base to pay respect to Chu.
He will be buried at the Air Force martyrs' shrine in Xindian District in New Taipei.
The military is still investigating the cause of the crash.