In brief
Search efforts continue for the remaining crew members following a deadly South Korean Navy plane crash in Pohang, raising new concerns about military aviation safety.
At least two out of four crew members aboard a South Korean Navy turboprop aircraft have tragically lost their lives after the plane crashed into a hillside near the eastern coast of the country on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred around 1:50 p.m. in Pohang, situated approximately 250 miles southeast of Seoul. Military officials reported that two officers and two noncommissioned officers were onboard during the ill-fated training flight. Rescue teams discovered the bodies of two crew members in the vicinity of the wreckage within hours of the crash, while efforts to locate the remaining two crew members are ongoing. The Navy aircraft, used for marine patrols, had taken off from a local airbase just five minutes before the incident. Authorities state that a police investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash. Eyewitness accounts describe the terrifying moment the plane went down, with local resident Kim Hong-gi recounting, “I heard a sputtering sound overhead and a large boom from behind. I’ve never witnessed a plane crash before. I was shocked.” In response, local fire officials rushed to the scene with two helicopters and 40 firefighters to extinguish the raging flames. Videos broadcasted by local news outlets show thick smoke rising from the forested hillside where the aircraft crashed, highlighting the severity of the incident.Jin Yu Young provides updates on South Korea, the Asia Pacific region, and critical global breaking news from Seoul.
