The clock is ticking. Rescue teams scramble to search for possible survivors feared trapped in the wreckage of a TransAsia plane that crashed into a Taiwan river Wednesday.

The death toll now stands at 31. Fifteen people were pulled alive from the wreckage and are injured while 12 remain unaccounted for.

Like Us on Facebook

Taiwanese authorities said rescuers are finding it difficult to reach the victims as passenger seats were mangled and some parts of the plane were stuck in the riverbed. In the latest investigation into the black boxes recovered hours after the crash, a mayday call was made shortly before the crash. 

A make voice was heard in the cockpit, "GE235. Mayday, mayday. Engine flameout."

The recording was further verified by the LiveATC.net, which records air traffic control feed from around the world. It is still unclear though, if the male voice was that of the pilot's. 

TransAsia Flight GE235 went out of control and clipped the Nanhu Bridge shortly before it crashed into the Keelung River. The ATR-72 turbo-prop aircraft had experienced engine trouble just four minutes after taking off.

The aircraft, carrying 58 passengers and crew, was traveling from Taipei's Songshan Airport to the outlying Kinmen islands. Thirty-one of the passengers were Chinese tourists, including three children while 22 were from Taiwan.

Passenger Lin Mingwei, who was traveling with his wife and their 2-year-old child, said there was no warning that the plane was about to crash. He pulled his wife and son from the river and the boy is now at the intensive care unit battling for his life.

One of the fatalities - tour guide Wany Qinghou - was due to get married this weekend.

In his tweet, minutes before the takeoff, the guide said, "Today is the beginning of Spring. Let's enjoy this day, peacefully and happily."

Despite the tragedy, experts believe the pilots did what they think was the best thing to do - to land the plane on a river. Aviation expert Liao Linghui said the pilot did his best to avoid crashing into a nearby residential area.

Captain Liao, 41, was a former military pilot, and a father to a 9-year-old boy. He had 4,916 flying hours under his belt.

In a statement, TransAsia Chief Executive Officer Chen Xinde expressed deep apologies to the victims and crew.

TagsMayday, Death Toll, Taiwan, plane crash, TransAsia, Flight GE235