Pilot died clutching plane's joystick

The pilot of the crashed TransAsia Airways plane was still clutching the joystick when his body was found in the cockpit, reports said on Friday as the airline faced sanctions over its second fatal accident.

Pilot Liao Chien-tsung, 41, was among at least 35 people who lost their lives in the accident on Flight GE 235 in Taipei, Taiwan, on Wednesday.

Fifteen people survived, and rescuers are still searching the river and submerged wreckage for another eight who remain missing.