South Korea Suspends Surveillance Flights After Deadly Crash
(MENAFN) South Korea’s navy has grounded nearly a dozen reconnaissance aircraft after a deadly crash involving a P-3CK patrol plane, a local news agency reported Monday.
The aircraft went down on May 29 during a routine training operation, slamming into a mountain in Pohang, about 270 kilometers (167.7 miles) southeast of Seoul. All four military personnel on board were killed.
In the wake of the crash, South Korea’s military announced it is actively negotiating with the United States to secure additional surveillance capabilities. The navy plans to begin operating the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft starting in July.
"We are getting support from Coast Guard surveillance aircraft and talks are also underway with the US military on receiving surveillance aircraft support from the US Indo-Pacific Command," said Col. Lee Sung-jun, a spokesperson for the army.
A joint investigation team, made up of military officials, civilian specialists, and government representatives, has been formed to determine the cause of the crash.
Authorities are currently attempting to retrieve data from the aircraft’s damaged flight voice recorder, which could provide critical insight into the plane’s final moments.
According to the navy, the last communication between the aircraft and the control tower occurred just one minute before the crash. No distress signals were reported, suggesting the incident may have been caused by a sudden mechanical malfunction.
On Monday, the Defense Ministry convened high-level officials to examine possible failures in training protocols, operational readiness, and procedural safeguards related to the crash.
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