A South Korean Navy P-3 maritime patrol aircraft crashed in a mountainous area near Pohang on May 29, with four crew members aboard the aircraft at the time of the incident.
The aircraft went down at approximately 1:52 p.m. local time in a field in Sinjeong-ri, Donghae-myeon, Nam-gu, Pohang City, according to Navy officials. The P-3C had taken off from Pohang Air Base at 1:43 p.m. for a training mission when the crash occurred.
Navy officials confirmed that four crew members were on board the aircraft but said they are still working to determine the extent of casualties. The cause of the crash has not been determined, and military authorities are conducting an investigation into the incident.
The crash site is located in a relatively remote area away from residential buildings, though a 688-unit, 12-building apartment complex is situated nearby. According to a witness at an equestrian facility located approximately 30 meters from the crash site, the aircraft initially appeared to be heading toward the riding facility but the pilot managed to change course at the last moment, potentially preventing a larger disaster.
“The plane was originally crashing toward the equestrian center, but the pilot turned the direction at the last minute and fortunately avoided a major accident,” the witness said. “I’m grateful to the pilot for protecting the riding center, but I’m worried about what happened to that person.”
The crash triggered a wildfire in the mountainous area, prompting fire authorities to dispatch two firefighting helicopters, 17 pieces of equipment, and 40 personnel to combat the blaze. Dense smoke at the scene has prevented rescue teams from reaching the aircraft, making it difficult to assess casualties immediately.
Gyeongsangbuk-do Governor Lee Cheol-woo issued an emergency directive following the accident, instructing all relevant agencies including fire, administrative, and military personnel to mobilize necessary resources for rescue operations. The governor called for close coordination between Pohang City, fire departments, and other agencies to establish an integrated response system.
Local police and fire authorities plan to determine casualties and investigate the cause of the accident once the fire is extinguished. Military officials are also working to confirm the exact cause of the crash and assess personnel casualties.
The P-3C Orion is an older maritime patrol aircraft used by the South Korean Navy for surveillance and anti-submarine warfare missions. It is being phased out and being replace by the Boeing P-8A.
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