The Taiwanese finance minister has urged banks not to desert China Airlines following Saturday's tragic crash that plunged 225 people into the sea.

Shares in China Airlines slumped 7% - their maximum daily limit - within the first minute of the market's opening, and did not budge for the rest of the session.

Local banks should not drop stones on a person who has already fallen into a well

Taiwan finance minister

Insurance costs are likely to rise and passenger confidence will be knocked after the aircraft broke-up in midair, for reasons yet to be discovered.

No survivors are expected from the crash which is the fourth fatal accident since 1994.

"Local banks should not drop stones on a person who has already fallen into a well," said Taiwan's finance minister Lee Yung-san, urging them to keep credit lines open.

Government help

The crash comes just as the airline was forging a recovery in the aftermath of the post-11 September slump in air travel.

China Airlines is Taiwan's biggest carrier, and had enjoyed a healthy rise in revenues during the first three months of the year.

And its stock had surged 78% since October.

The carrier's vice president, James Chang, has already said the crash was likely to force the airline to cut its financial forecast.

It says it is fully covered by insurance for all claims against loss of both life and property.

And the government has indicated that it would consider insuring the airline if private insurers are unwilling.