A South Korean army AH-1S Cobra helicopter crashed in an area north of Seoul, resulting in the deaths of two military personnel. The army immediately suspended flights of this helicopter model to investigate the cause and is urgently checking safety, especially since some units are old and have been in use for several decades.
South Korean military officials reported that at 11:04 a.m. local time today (9 Feb), an AH-1S Cobra attack helicopter belonging to the army's 15th Aviation Brigade crashed during training exercises in Gapyeong, about 55 kilometers northeast of Seoul.
The helicopter took off from its base at 9:45 a.m. for routine training before crashing to the ground. Rescue teams found two non-commissioned officers aboard the aircraft in cardiac arrest and rushed them to hospital, but both later died due to their injuries.
Officials initially stated that there was no fire or explosion during the crash. The accident occurred while the crew was training to familiarize themselves with "emergency landing procedures."
The army has formed a special investigation committee to determine the exact cause of this tragedy and has ordered all AH-1S Cobra helicopters grounded until the investigation is complete.
Defense Minister An Kyu-baek, who is currently visiting Saudi Arabia, has been informed of the incident and has instructed that compensation measures and follow-up actions be carried out as quickly as possible.
The AH-1S Cobra is a single-engine, tank-killing attack helicopter manufactured by the United States, which the South Korean army has operated for many years. Some units are over 30 years old. Although the exact number still in service is unclear, the government’s weapons procurement agency stated in 2022 that the model is "scheduled for retirement" to be replaced by a domestically developed light armed helicopter (LAH).
. Yonhap