Taipei: President Lai Ching-te on Tuesday expressed condolences for two Air Force lieutenant colonels who were killed in a T-34 trainer aircraft crash in southern Taiwan and said a task force had been established to probe the cause of the accident and prevent similar tragedies.According to Focus Taiwan, the aircraft, bearing tail number 3414, was being flown by Lt. Col. Lu Chi-yu and Lt. Col. Kuo Chun-nan on a simulated engine-failure training mission. The aircraft crashed near the northern end of the runway at 8:08 a.m. at Gangshan Air Base in Kaohsiung, killing both pilots, the Air Force said.President Lai expressed his deep sorrow over the incident, extending gratitude for the sacrifices and contributions of the two pilots while offering condolences to their families. He emphasized the importance of determining the accident's cause swiftly to prevent future occurrences.Lai has instructed the Ministry of National Defense to establish a task force to investigate the accident. He also directed the minis try to assist the families of the deceased pilots with funeral arrangements to ensure a respectful farewell.Premier Cho Jung-tai stated that the task force would scrutinize the aircraft's mechanical condition, training procedures, and safety measures to bolster the safety of future exercises. Further details about the incident were not immediately available.