Military Chopper Crashes, 7 Killed

A chopper belonging to an Army aviation battalion crashed early yesterday morning into a mountain in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province. All seven on board were killed.

An Army spokesman said the helicopter took off at 12:10 a.m. from a military hospital in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, to transport a corporal and medical crew to another military hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. The corporal had shown symptoms of cerebral hemorrhage.

After the helicopter dropped off the corporal at the Seongnam hospital, it suddenly disappeared from radar during its return to its military base.

Killed in the crash were pilot Shin Gi-yong (44); co-pilot Hwang Gap-ju (35); Private First Class Choi Nak-gyeong (22); Lee Se-in (21); medical officer Jeong Jae-hun (33); nurse Seon Hyo-seon (22); and medic Kim Beom-jin (22).

Military authorities traced the chopper’s location through Hwang’s mobile phone. They found the debris and the bodies of the crew at 3:52 a.m., about two hours and 40 minutes after the crash, near the top of Mount Yongmun.

Investigators are analyzing communication data and flight records. Considering a thick mist covered the mountaintop, poor visibility is seen as the likely cause of the accident.

ysh1005@donga.com