Taipei, June 12 (CNA) The body of filmmaker Chi Po-lin was brought back to Taipei Monday on a military aircraft following his death in a helicopter crash on the weekend while he was filming in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan.
The military said it offered the use of a C-130 aircraft to transport the body because of the close cooperation over the years between the Air Force and Chi, who was doing aerial shooting for a sequel to his award-winning documentary "Beyond Beauty" when the helicopter crashed, killing the three people on board Saturday.
For example, Chi helped the Air Force to film documentaries and micro movies on its rescue and humanitarian relief operations, the military said.
On Sunday morning, two C-130s flew from Hualien Air Force base to Taipei, one carrying Chi's body and the other carrying the bodies of his 25-year-old assistant Chen Kuan-chi and helicopter pilot Chang Chih-kuang, 53. Relatives of the deceased were also on the flights.
The three men died Saturday when the Bell-206 helicopter that was being used in the aerial film shoot suddenly went down on a slope in southern Hualien.
The wreckage was transported by road to Taipei on Sunday for investigation into the crash, according to the Aviation Safety Council, which said it has invited American and French experts to take part in the probe.
Chi's death has drawn an outpouring of public sorrow, as people mourned the filmmaker who helped raise environmental awareness with his 2013 documentary, "Beyond Beauty -- Taiwan From Above."
The film, which features aerial cinematography, won Best Documentary at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards in 2013 and was also nominated for Best Original Film Score.
