Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) has confirmed the death toll in the TransAsia Airways’ ATR 72-600 aircraft crash has increased to 32, while 12 people are unaccounted for.

TransAsia Airways’ ATR 72-600 crashed into a river in Taipei on Wednesday. Rescue operations are underway to recover any possible survivors trapped in the fuselage.

CAA said that 15 people survived, but the pilot and co-pilot of the ATR 72-600 were among those killed, reports Reuters.

Flight GE235, which was on its way to Kinmen islands, crashed into Keelung River shortly after takeoff from Taipei’s Songshan airport. It was carrying 58 passengers and crew onboard when the accident happened.

"The CAA ordered special checks on the existing ATR aircraft, with a focus on engines, fuel control and propeller systems, spark plugs and ignition connectors."

According to Associated Press, the left engine propeller of ATR 72-600 appeared to be standstill, and the wings in a vertical position before it hit an elevated roadway and crashed upside down into the river.

Divers from Taipei fire agency are searching for those missing, who are believed to have been trapped at the river bottom. The rear section of the turbo-propeller jet was retrieved using a crane, and the fuselage was dismantled using hydraulic rescue tools.

The CAA ordered special checks on the existing ATR aircraft, with a focus on engines, fuel control and propeller systems, spark plugs and ignition connectors.

The aviation regulator said that no malfunctioning was recorded in the prior flights of TransAsia’s ATR 72-600.

TransAsia Airways operates ten ATR turboprop airliners, including 72-500s and 72-600s.