Five Confirmed Dead in Helicopter Crash During Wildfire Patrol

At around 10:50 a.m. on the 27th, an S-58T model medium-sized leased helicopter crashed in a mountain near Myeongjusa Temple in Eoseongjeon-ri, Hyeonbuk-myeon, Yangyang-gun, and the fire authorities are conducting rescue operations.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] It has been confirmed that five people died when a leased helicopter conducting a wildfire prevention flight crashed into a hill in Yangyang, Gangwon Province.

At around 10:50 a.m. on the 27th, a medium-sized leased helicopter of the S-58T model crashed into a hill near Myeongjusa Temple in Eoseongjeon-ri, Hyeonbuk-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Province.

Immediately after the accident, the fire department extinguished the fire that broke out on the fuselage and recovered five bodies from the ashes. Initially, it was presumed that two occupants, pilot Mr. A (71) and mechanic Mr. B (54), had died, but as the number of casualties was confirmed to be five, the forestry authorities also began identifying the victims.

The helicopter was completely destroyed and mostly burned, and since the extinguishing work was nearly completed, the risk of the fire spreading to the forest was reported to be low.

The crashed helicopter was jointly leased and operated by Sokcho, Goseong, and Yangyang. It is reported that it crashed during a wildfire prevention flight conducting aerial activities in wildfire-prone areas that day.