SEOUL, South Korea — A South Korean navy maritime patrol aircraft crashed during a routine training mission on Thursday near the coastal military city of Pohang, killing all four crew members onboard, the navy confirmed in an official statement. The aircraft, identified as a P-3 patrol plane, went down shortly after takeoff, prompting the suspension of all flights involving the fleet pending a full investigation.
The P-3 aircraft, designed for anti-submarine and maritime surveillance missions, took off at approximately 1:43 p.m. local time (0443 GMT) from a naval airfield. Just six minutes later, the plane plummeted from the sky and burst into flames near the base, according to the South Korean Navy.
Television broadcaster YTN aired harrowing footage, purportedly captured by witnesses, showing the aircraft banking at low altitude before it rapidly descended. Moments later, a column of smoke and fire erupted from the crash site, confirming the worst fears of a fatal aviation accident.
“All four crew members aboard the aircraft have been confirmed dead,” the navy said in its statement. Search-and-rescue teams quickly responded and recovered the remains of the deceased at the crash scene. Authorities added that no civilian injuries or property damage were reported, as the plane went down in a remote area near the military base.
The identities of the victims have not been publicly released pending notification of next of kin, but military officials described the deceased as experienced personnel participating in a scheduled training exercise.
Following the fatal crash, the South Korean navy immediately grounded its fleet of P-3 aircraft and announced the launch of a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the crash. Military aviation and safety authorities will examine mechanical issues, pilot response, and weather conditions at the time of the incident.
“An accident investigation team has been formed and dispatched to the scene,” the navy said. “We are fully cooperating with aviation safety authorities to determine the cause of this tragic incident.”
The P-3 Orion aircraft, which has been in service since the Cold War era, has formed a core part of South Korea’s naval surveillance and reconnaissance operations, particularly along maritime borders with North Korea and surrounding regional waters. However, some defense analysts have previously raised concerns about the age and maintenance challenges of the aging fleet, sparking renewed debate in the aftermath of Thursday’s crash.
While the incident occurred during a training mission, the crash is expected to prompt a review of aviation safety protocols within the navy and potentially accelerate discussions about modernizing South Korea’s maritime patrol capabilities.
The South Korean Defense Ministry has not commented beyond confirming that the P-3 fleet would remain grounded until further notice. President Yoon Suk Yeol has been briefed on the incident and is expected to issue a formal statement after consultations with defense officials.
This tragedy adds to a series of military aviation accidents that have raised concerns in recent years, even as South Korea continues to modernize its armed forces to counter regional threats.
