Military on Navy Aircraft Crash: "Receiving Coast Guard Patrol Support... Also Consulting with U.S."

Navy Forms Joint Civilian-Government-Military Investigation Committee on May 31
Launches Full-Scale Probe into Maritime Patrol Aircraft Crash

Regarding the operational gap caused by the crash of the Navy's P-3CK maritime patrol aircraft, the military announced that it is strengthening patrols by deploying alternative assets.

At a regular briefing on June 2, Lee Sungjun, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed concerns about the patrol gap resulting from the maritime patrol aircraft crash. He stated, "We are receiving support from Korea Coast Guard patrol aircraft and sharing information. In addition, South Korea and the United States are discussing support from U.S. patrol aircraft under the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command."

Lee added, "Our military is reinforcing patrols by operating alternative assets such as naval vessels and maritime operation helicopters. Furthermore, the P-8 Poseidon, which is currently being deployed by our Navy, is scheduled to be operationally deployed in July."

Meanwhile, as of May 31, the Navy formed a joint civilian-government-military investigation committee to determine the cause of the maritime patrol aircraft crash and has begun investigation activities. The joint investigation committee is chaired by the head of the Navy Safety Division and consists of members from the Navy Safety Division, Investigation Division, Marine Forensic Science Center, Air Force Aviation Safety Division, Army Aviation Command, Korea Coast Guard, and civilian experts from aircraft maintenance companies.

A Navy official stated, "We are currently conducting a comprehensive investigation into the aircraft wreckage, cockpit voice recorder, CCTV footage of the accident, radar tracks and communications records, aircraft maintenance history, and interviews with relevant personnel and witnesses. The joint investigation committee plans to thoroughly determine the cause of the accident through a professional and objective investigation and will transparently disclose the results."