TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A training accident involving a Taiwan Air Force P-3C Orion anti-submarine aircraft was reported at a base in Pingtung County on Thursday (April 18). 

While the aircraft was in flight, a dummy AGM-65 Maverick missile detached and fell into the ocean, reported UDN. Reports indicate the missile was not loaded with any explosive material, and it landed in the ocean, so no one was harmed. 

The incident was reported and the P-3C Orion returned to base for inspection. Ground crews could find nothing wrong with the aircraft or controls in the cockpit, suggesting the training missile may not have been secured properly. 

The training missiles used in the exercise did not have a rocket propulsion system or any explosive load. The missile had a camera connected to an electronic targeting system, which the pilots use to practice identifying and locking onto targets from above. 

The Air Force will investigate the incident to avoid similar incidents when the aircraft is equipped with a live missile.