Airforce General Shen Yi-Ming, the top military official of Taiwan was killed on Thursday in a helicopter crash. He and either others lost their lives when the Black Hawk helicopter they were on crashed in a forced landing in a mountainous region just outside the capital Taipei.

Emergency authorities rushed to the scene, working quickly to cut through the mangled wreckage in hope of finding survivors. According to reports, the helicopter blades were shattered.

The incident has caused disruption with campaign eventson the lead-up to Taiwan's presidential and parliamentary elections scheculed for January 11.