In brief
A South Korean naval training mission ends in tragedy as an air patrol plane crashes, leading to a frantic rescue operation.
At least two crew members of a South Korean Navy airplane were killed in a crash on Thursday as the aircraft plummeted into a hillside near Pohang, a coastal city located approximately 250 miles southeast of Seoul. The turboprop plane, which was engaged in marine patrol duties, went down around 1:50 p.m. during a training session, according to military officials.The aircraft had taken off from a nearby air base just five minutes prior to the accident. Local authorities reported that rescuers uncovered two bodies in the wreckage shortly after the incident, and efforts were ongoing to locate the remaining two crew members, comprised of two officers and two noncommissioned officers.Dramatic footage broadcasted by local media captured clouds of smoke rising from the hilly area, while emergency services, including fire trucks and ambulances, responded to the scene. Kim Hong-gi, a witness from Pohang, recounted hearing a distinct sputtering noise followed by a loud explosion. “When I looked up, I saw smoke—I've never seen an aircraft crash before, and it left me in shock,” he remarked.Firefighters mobilized two helicopters along with 40 personnel to address the fire ignited by the impact, as police initiated an investigation into the cause of the crash. The tragedy underscores ongoing concerns regarding safety in military aviation.
