'Submarine Killer' Navy Patrol Aircraft Crashes, 4 Dead... Only 8 in the Country

[Financial News] On the 29th, a naval maritime patrol aircraft crashed on a hill in Pohang, Gyeongbuk. All four crew members died. It is reported that there were no civilian casualties.
According to the Navy, at around 1:49 PM, a P-3CK patrol aircraft operated by the Navy crashed on a hill near Sinjeong-ri, Donghae-myeon, Nam-gu, Pohang-si. It was six minutes after taking off from Pohang base for training at 1:43 PM on the same day.
The patrol aircraft had two officers, including a major, and two non-commissioned officers on board. The Navy explained, "We have confirmed all four bodies of the maritime patrol aircraft crew and are currently recovering them." It is reported that the identities of each deceased found near the aircraft wing have not yet been confirmed.
When the accident occurred, the fire authorities mobilized 2 helicopters, 17 pieces of equipment, and 40 personnel to conduct firefighting operations and search for the occupants simultaneously. The patrol aircraft was completely burned, making it impossible to recognize the shape of the fuselage.
It is reported that the patrol aircraft, which was in training, was not armed with weapons such as missiles. However, it is reported that, unlike a fighter jet, the pilot does not have the function to escape on their own.
Residents who witnessed the situation testified that the patrol aircraft was circling about twice to land just before the accident and suddenly fell to the ground urgently. They also stated that a loud noise echoed due to the accident.
The Navy explained, "We are forming an accident countermeasure headquarters under the supervision of the Deputy Chief of Staff to confirm the cause of the accident."
The P-3 patrol aircraft, which is the accident aircraft, is an American anti-submarine patrol aircraft that the Navy has been operating since 1995. Developed by Lockheed Martin, the initial model P-3A was produced from the early 1960s, and the performance-enhanced P-3C series was introduced domestically.
Equipped with four turboprop engines, it can carry torpedoes, depth charges, bombs, and missiles to attack submarines and maritime targets, earning it the nickname 'submarine killer.'
In 1995, eight P-3C models were first introduced, and later, eight P-3CK models, which were almost newly made by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) from the P-3B held by the US military as a reserve, were introduced, totaling 16.
However, with only 16 aircraft patrolling the Korean Peninsula, which is surrounded by sea on three sides, concerns about aircraft overuse have been constant. In Japan's case, 102 P-3C aircraft were introduced and operated before 1990, possessing far superior patrol capabilities than Korea.
The Navy announced that it achieved '10 years without accidents' and '20 years without accidents' for the P-3 in 2005 and 2015, respectively, but a crash occurred in this year's 30th year of introduction.
In January 2017, a P-3CK accidentally dropped six weapons, including Harpoon anti-ship missiles, into the sea due to crew error while performing patrol missions.



wangjylee@fnnews.com Lee Jong-yun Reporter