An investigation unfolds following a tragic incident in which a South Korean Navy turboprop aircraft crashed into a hillside during a training flight, resulting in the deaths of two crew members and ongoing search efforts for the others.
Two Dead in South Korean Navy Plane Crash Near Pohang
Two Dead in South Korean Navy Plane Crash Near Pohang
A South Korean Navy aircraft crash claimed the lives of two crew members, with ongoing efforts to locate the remaining personnel.
Two crew members have tragically died following a South Korean Navy airplane crash that occurred near Pohang, on the eastern coast of South Korea, on Thursday. The incident, which involved a turboprop aircraft assigned for marine patrol duties, took place around 1:50 p.m. local time. According to military officials, the plane had recently taken off from a local air base and was conducting a training mission at the time of the accident.
Authorities confirmed that four crew members—two officers and two noncommissioned officers—were aboard the aircraft when it went down. Rescuers managed to locate and recover two bodies near the wreckage a few hours after the crash, but efforts to locate the remaining two crew members are still ongoing.
Eyewitness reports revealed a scene of chaos and shock; a local resident, Kim Hong-gi, described hearing a “sputtering sound overhead followed by a large boom,” before seeing considerable smoke rising from the crash site. Footage captured by local news outlets depicted smoke billowing from a forested area, with emergency responders, including fire trucks and ambulances, rapidly mobilizing to the scene.
Local fire officials dispatched two helicopters and around 40 firefighters to combat the flames and manage the disaster zone. The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, as the military and community grapple with the loss. As of now, details regarding the cause of the accident remain uncertain, and officials are focusing on the search and recovery efforts for the two missing crew members.
