A Taiwanese pilot tried to hijack a US CH-47 Chinook helicopter to China for a $15m reward

A Taiwanese CH-47SD Chinook pilot tried to escape to China with a US helicopter. He would have received a reward for ferrying the aircraft.

Here's What We Know

The pilot planned to hand over the CH-47SD Chinook to the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. While waiting for the American helicopter, a Chinese ship was in the Taiwan Strait. It was probably a Type 002 Shandong or Type 001 Liaoning aircraft carrier. Thus, the pilot would have been able to hand over the Chinook to the Chinese without crossing the state border.

Reportedly, the Taiwanese pilot would have received a $15 million reward for hijacking the CH-47SD Chinook. In addition, his family would have been evacuated to Thailand in the event of a military conflict between the two countries.

The defector, along with his accomplices, was arrested this summer. Taiwan's law enforcement authorities had been monitoring the traitors for several months.

Source: Taipei Times