Seoul: South Korea's navy has grounded nearly a dozen surveillance aircraft following the crash of a P-3CK patrol plane last Thursday, the Yonhap news agency reported on Monday. The aircraft went down on a mountain in Pohang on May 29, approximately 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, during a routine training exercise, resulting in the death of all four uniformed personnel on board.
According to Anadolu Agency, South Korea's military announced on Monday that it is in discussions with the US to explore options for receiving surveillance support. The navy is set to deploy the P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft in July. "We are getting support from Coast Guard surveillance aircraft and talks are also underway with the US military on receiving surveillance aircraft support from the US Indo-Pacific Command," said Col. Lee Sung-jun, an army spokesperson.
A joint investigation committee consisting of military personnel, civilian experts, and government officials has been formed by the navy to ascertain the cause of the patrol aircraft crash. Efforts are also in progress to recover data from a damaged flight voice recorder, which may provide insights into the final moments of the aircraft.
According to the Navy, the last contact between the control tower and the plane took place one minute before the crash, with no signs of distress, suggesting the possibility of a sudden mechanical failure. In response to the incident, the Defense Ministry convened a meeting of senior officials on Monday to evaluate potential deficiencies in operational readiness, training, and procedures related to the incident.