Pohang: Two people lost their lives when a maritime patrol aircraft carrying four Navy officers crashed on a mountain in the southeastern city of Pohang, the Navy announced. The incident occurred around 1:49 p.m., and witnesses reported smoke and explosion sounds rising from the mountain.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the crash involved a P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, which had taken off at 1:43 p.m. for landing and takeoff training from an air base in Pohang. An unspecified reason caused the aircraft to crash nearby shortly after takeoff. The Navy confirmed four individuals were on board, comprising two commissioned officers and two non-commissioned officers. The bodies of two crew members have been recovered, but their identities remain unverified.
The aircraft was typically stationed at a Navy unit on the southern island of Jeju but had traveled to Pohang for training purposes. In response to the crash, the Navy has grounded the P-3 maritime patrol aircraft and established an investigative unit to examine the incident further. A search for the other crew members is ongoing, with no civilian casualties reported.
Acting President Lee Ju-ho received a briefing on the crash from Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho, emphasizing efforts to rescue the passengers and mitigate environmental damage. The Navy operates 16 P-3 aircraft, known as "submarine killers" for their anti-submarine capabilities. The aircraft involved in the crash was one of the eight P-3CK models currently in service in Pohang and Jeju.
This crash is the first known incident involving a P-3 aircraft within the armed service, highlighting concerns over aviation safety and operational protocols within the Navy.