Four dead after Navy patrol plane crashes in Pohang shortly after takeoff

Debris is scattered on a mountain in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, after an aircraft crashed on May 29, 2025. Yonhap

SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - A patrol aircraft with four people aboard crashed on a mountain in the southeastern city of Pohang on Thursday, according to military authorities.

"A P-3 maritime patrol aircraft crashed several minutes after taking off from an air base in Pohang for training at around 1:40 p.m. due to unidentified reasons," the Navy said in a statement.

The Navy is investigating further details including the exact cause of the crash. Firefighters were immediately dispatched to the scene to extinguish the fire and carry out search operations, with all four pilots found dead about a couple of hours later.

Developed by Lockheed Martin, the P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, also known as the P-3 Orion is primarily used for naval surveillance, reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare. Since first procuring it in 1995, the Navy is currently operating 16 units.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com

Four dead after Navy patrol plane crashes in Pohang shortly after takeoff

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