Navy Plane Crashes In South Korea: What To Know

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A South Korean military aircraft has crashed during a training exercise on Thursday, according to official sources.

At least two of the four individuals onboard have been confirmed dead, reports Yonhap News Agency, South Korea’s leading news outlet.

The incident involved a P-3C maritime patrol aircraft that departed from Pohang, a city on South Korea’s southeastern coast, at approximately 1:43 p.m. local time. The aircraft subsequently crashed under circumstances that remain unclear, with reports suggesting it may have come down on a mountainside, as per KBS World.

Footage circulating online shows the aircraft rapidly descending over a dual carriageway, with one video capturing smoke emanating from the mountain area near the crash site. Fortunately, there appears to be no damage to nearby civilian structures.

Emergency responders, including firefighters and water trucks, have been dispatched to the scene. Flames and thick grey smoke are visible amid the surrounding trees, indicating ongoing firefighting efforts.

An emergency response team in Pohang reported that rescue and firefighting units arrived promptly after local residents reported hearing an explosion and witnessing the aircraft’s crash. The police in Pohang’s Nambu district confirmed that the aircraft involved was a navy patrol plane, but they did not immediately specify whether there were any casualties. Later reports from Yonhap indicated that two of the four onboard personnel had died.

The Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion is renowned as the world’s leading multi-mission maritime aircraft, capable of conducting aerial, surface, and subsurface reconnaissance missions. With over 400 units operated by 21 countries, the P-3 has played vital roles in humanitarian efforts such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami response, Hurricane Katrina relief in 2005, and anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden in 2009. South Korea currently maintains eight P-3 aircraft across bases in Pohang and Jeju.

This incident follows a tragic aviation accident in South Korea earlier this year, when a Jeju Air passenger plane crashed at Muan International Airport in December 2024, resulting in 179 fatalities out of 181 passengers and crew onboard.

Reactions and Official Statements

The South Korean navy issued a statement via Yonhap, stating, “The identities of the deceased have not yet been confirmed. We are continuing efforts to locate the remaining two crew members.”

An official from the South Korean Navy added, “The aircraft was involved in routine takeoff and landing drills in Pohang, as part of our regular training exercises.”

Next Steps and Ongoing Investigation

Authorities have temporarily suspended all P-3 operations pending a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash. The investigation aims to determine whether technical failure, human error, or other factors contributed to the incident.

Update 05/29/25, 8 a.m. ET: This article has been revised to include additional details as they become available.