Three Killed as Navy Patrol Plane Crashes in South Korea

Seoul — A South Korean Navy patrol aircraft carrying four crew members crashed into a mountain in the southeastern city of Pohang on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of three people, authorities confirmed.

The crash occurred at approximately 1:50 p.m., just minutes after the P-3 maritime patrol aircraft took off from an air base in Pohang at 1:43 p.m. Witnesses in the area reported seeing smoke rising from the crash site.

In an official statement, the Navy said the aircraft went down due to unknown reasons. It confirmed that four personnel were on board and that an investigative team has been deployed to determine the cause and assess further details. No civilian casualties have been reported, according to Yonhap news agency.

Emergency response teams, including fire authorities, were dispatched to the scene to control the blaze.

Acting President Lee Ju-ho was promptly briefed on the incident by acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho. He instructed authorities to make every effort to rescue any survivors and prevent further environmental damage, according to a statement from the presidential office.

The Navy operates a fleet of 16 P-3C aircraft, known for their anti-submarine capabilities and often referred to as “submarine killers.” This marks the first reported crash involving a P-3C aircraft in South Korea’s military history.

Separate Incident: Jeju Air Flight Skids Off Runway in Vietnam

In a separate aviation incident, a Jeju Air Co. passenger plane carrying 183 passengers and six crew members briefly veered off the runway after landing at Da Nang International Airport in Vietnam. No injuries were reported.

Flight 7C2217, a B737-800 aircraft, had departed from Incheon International Airport and landed in Da Nang around 12:50 a.m. on Wednesday (local time). While taxiing, the aircraft veered slightly onto a safety zone before safely returning to the runway.

One of the landing gear tires was damaged in the incident. Jeju Air replaced the damaged tire and dispatched a replacement aircraft from South Korea to operate the return flight (7C2218), which was delayed by more than 14 hours and eventually departed at 4:08 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

South Korea’s Ministry of Transport has launched an investigation into the runway deviation.

With inputs from IANS