TAIPEI, Taiwan, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- TransAsia Airways grounded more than 70 pilots to begin proficiency testing Saturday after one of its turbo-prop aircraft plunged into a river, killing at least 40 people.
The Taiwanese airline said it has canceled 90 flights for the next three days to train 71 pilots who fly the airline's ATR turbo-prop fleet, as ordered by Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration.
At the same time, efforts are continuing to retrieve bodies from the Keelung River. Currently, 40 have been found and 3 are missing. Fifteen people survived.
TransAsia flight GE235 crashed Wednesday minutes after takeoff from Taipei's downtown airport. Authorities speculate the pilots aboard the ATR 72 mistakenly cut power to the only working engine.
Taiwan's Aviation Safety Council said it is continuing its investigation. A final report will be released in about 12 months.
