Singapore  - An open verdict was reached in the death of a Singapore soldier on duty in Taiwan after an out-of-control Taiwanese fighter jet smashed into the base killing the pilot, co-pilot and two people on the ground, news reports said on Wednesday.

State Coroner Victor Yeo said that without a final report from the Taiwanese, he could not determine the cause of the accident, The Straits Times said.

Details of the crash on May 11 last year were recounted during the coroner's inquiry on Tuesday into the death of Lance Corporal Calvin Chow Han Min, a 19-year-old supply assistant.

Chow, who was cleaning his gun when the jet spiralled toward the camp in Hukou, suffered severe burns and died 17 days later in a Singapore hospital.

The Singapore Infantry Regiment was in Taiwan for unilateral training from May 4 to May 20, the court heard.

Two jets were practicing for a live-firing exercise when servicemen on the ground saw one plane careen toward the camp. An explosion and fire engulfed two storehouses, the report said.

A private and third sergeant died at the site while Chow and another serviceman were airlifted to Singapore.

Singapore servicemen have trained in Taiwan for the past 30 years.

A preliminary report on the crash by Taiwan's Defence Ministry said it could have been caused by a combination of pilot error, low visibility and technical problems.

Internal inquiries by Singapore's Ministry of Defence showed no evidence that the city-state's servicemen were responsible for the crash. (dpa)