Taiwan releases Singapore pilots after crash

Three Singapore Airlines pilots who've been in detention in Taiwan since the crash of their airliner in October have been released.

Prosecutors said a court had received assurances from the airline and the Singaporean government that the three pilots would return to Taiwan when they were needed for the crash investigation.

Correspondents say the prosecutors were worried that the Singaporean government might not extradite the pilots if they were charged because Taiwan has no formal diplomatic relations with Singapore. Pilots unions and Taiwan's Aviation Safety Council had urged the men's release.

Local media say the men have already left the island.

Eighty-three people were killed when the Boeing 747 airliner hit construction equipment at Taipei airport as it tried to take off on a closed runway during a severe storm.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service