Joint ROK-U.S. search for missing fighter

The naval forces of the Republic of Korea and the United States teamed up to search for a South Korean F-52 Jegong fighter plane reported as missing over the East Sea Wednesday afternoon. Seven Korean naval vessels, including a rescue craft, and four U.S. destroyers from the armada commanded by aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, which is taking part in the current Foal Eagle annual military exercise, searched for the missing warplane off the east coast Thursday. They were helped by four helicopters, including an HH-60 rescue helicopter of the Korean Air Force and four American Navy helicopters, defense officials here said.

They discovered a small oil slick on the sea in the area where the plane went out of sight but found no wreckage. The Air Force authorities ordered over 100 F-52 fighters grounded pending the results of the search and further examination, and said safety checkups would be carried out on all fighter planes.