Air Force General Shen Yi-ming, who was Taiwan's chief of general staff, died after a helicopter carrying 13 people crash-landed into a mountain on Thursday, according to the defense ministry, Eurasia Diary reports citing Deutsche Welle.
Taiwan's official Central News Agency also confirmed General Shen's death.
At least eight people died in the helicopter crash, according to some reports.
The helicopter made an emergency landing in the mountains near Taipei after taking off on a routine mission to visit soldiers in the northeast Yilan country ahead of the lunar new year.
Air force commander-in-chief Hsiung Hou-chi told a news conference in Taipei that it remains uncertain what caused the incident.
"The search and rescue operation continues... We are investigating whether (the cause) was environmental or mechanical... the aircraft's condition is not ideal," Hsiung told reporters.
"We hope everyone can be safe and we should know the results this afternoon," he added.