A South Korean military AH-1S Cobra attack helicopter crashed during a training flight on Monday in the northern county of Gapyeong, killing both crew members on board, the country’s military said.
The helicopter went down at around 11:04 a.m. local time (0204 GMT) while conducting a routine training exercise, according to an army statement. The crash occurred in a hilly, forested area about 55 kilometres northeast of Seoul.
Both crew members, identified as warrant officers, were rescued from the wreckage and transported to nearby hospitals in cardiac arrest, but were later pronounced dead, military and local authorities said.
The Army said the training involved practising emergency landing procedures without shutting down the engine. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
There were no reports of fire, explosion, civilian injuries, or damage to nearby property, the military added.
Following the incident, the South Korean Army suspended operations of all AH-1S Cobra helicopters and established a special investigation team to determine the cause of the crash. Defence officials said flight data, wreckage and maintenance records would be examined as part of the probe.
The AH-1S Cobra is an aging, U.S.-made attack helicopter that has been in service with the South Korean military for decades. Authorities said further details would be released once the investigation progresses.