TAIPEI • Chi Po-lin, director of the acclaimed 2013 documentary Beyond Beauty: Taiwan From Above, is believed to be one of three people killed when an aircraft they were in crashed in a township in eastern Taiwan's Hualien county last Saturday, the local police said.

The name of the 52-year-old was on a list of people who were supposed to be on board helicopter No. B31118 when it crashed in the mountainous region of Fengbin township. The identities of the victims need to be confirmed, the police said.

The helicopter, which belonged to Emerald Pacific Airlines, was on an aerial photography mission related to the sequel of Beyond Beauty when it crashed, officials said.

Beyond Beauty, which won Best Documentary at the 50th Golden Horse Awards, documented Taiwan completely in aerial photography.

Produced at NT$90 million (S$4.1 million), it was the most expensive documentary made in Taiwan and was praised for awakening the Taiwanese to the beauty of the island, as well as its man-made destruction over decades of rapid growth, and the importance of preserving its natural beauty.

Chi recently announced his plan to shoot the sequel. The other two people on board the helicopter are believed to be the pilot and Chi's assistant. The aviation authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

CHINA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK