HK woman injured in Taipei airport incident involving unlicensed taxi

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A Hong Kong woman was injured at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Saturday after being thrown from an unlicensed taxi during a police pursuit, prompting officers to fire eight shots to stop the fleeing driver.

The incident unfolded around 9.15am at the airport’s Terminal 1 meeting point 19, where a 43-year-old Hong Kong woman surnamed Lee boarded a white Tesla driven by a man surnamed Tsai. 

Airport security police approached the vehicle for inspection, suspecting illegal taxi operations. 

The driver refused to comply and attempted to flee, accelerating rapidly. 

During the escape attempt, the passenger was ejected from the car, reportedly due to an unsecured door, and narrowly avoided being run over by the vehicle. 

Two bystanders quickly intervened, pulling the woman to safety on the roadside.

Police fired eight shots to halt the Tesla, eventually apprehending the driver.

The 43-year-old driver, who has a prior record of illegal taxi operations, was arrested and faces charges related to public endangerment. 

The injured Hong Kong woman sustained leg injuries and was promptly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Footage of the incident, captured by witnesses and shared on the social media platform Threads, showed the woman tumbling onto the road in apparent pain as the Tesla continued moving forward, nearly striking her. 

The video also revealed the vehicle’s door was not properly closed during the driver’s erratic maneuvers, which included reversing and accelerating to evade police. Gunshots were audible in the footage as officers worked to stop the vehicle.

The Hong Kong Immigration Department stated it has not yet received requests for assistance related to the incident. 

However, it advised Hong Kong residents needing support while abroad to contact the department’s 24-hour assistance hotline at (852) 1868, use the Immigration Department’s mobile app to reach the hotline via data, message the 1868 WhatsApp or WeChat helplines, or submit an online assistance form.