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S. Korea: 2 Killed in Helicopter Crash in Taiwan Rescue Mission


Fri 08 Apr 2022 | 12:49 PM
Omnia Ahmed

A Coast Guard helicopter crashed in waters off South Korea's southernmost island of Mara on Friday, leaving two crewmen dead and another missing.

Officials revealed that four people were aboard the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter when it crashed in waters 370 kilometers southwest of Mara Island at 1:32 a.m.

The two victims were, a co-pilot, identified by his surname Chung, 51, and a vessel radar operator, surnamed Hwang, 28. In addition, a mechanic, 42, went missing.

The pilot, 47, was rescued by a nearby Coast Guard patrol boat and is in a non-life-threatening condition, according to Korean reports.

The crash occurred shortly after the helicopter took off to return to Busan after dropping off six Coast Guard rescuers on the patrol boat. They had rescue operations for crew members missing from a tug boat in waters near Taiwan.

"Following the helicopter's crash, the patrol boat's crew rescued three people and two of them died, while the remaining one remains missing," a Coast Guard official said.

Meanwhile, 17 ships, including seven Coast Guard patrol boats, a Navy warship and private fishing boats, are searching the area to rescue the missing crewman.