Two dead after helicopter crash in Gangwon

Social Affairs

Published: 15 Mar. 2023, 18:29 Updated: 15 Mar. 2023, 18:31

Two dead after helicopter crash in Gangwon

A helicopter crashed into a mountainside in Yeongwol County, 138 kilometers east of Seoul, on Wednesday at 7:46 a.m., killing two on board. [YONHAP]

Two people were killed in a helicopter crash in Gangwon on Wednesday.

According to Gangwon Fire Headquarters, a privately operated helicopter crashed into a mountainside in Yeongwol County, 138 kilometers (85 miles) east of Seoul, at 7:46 a.m. Wednesday.

The aircraft was transporting building materials for construction at a local transmission tower at the time of the crash.

The 65-year-old pilot and a 51-year-old employee of a cargo transport company were found in a state of cardiac arrest and taken to the hospital, where they were declared dead.

“The helicopter was carrying as much as 500 kilograms [1,102 pounds] of materials,” said a spokesperson from the company that operates the helicopter.

Immediately after the accident, a local resident called the 119 emergency hotline and reported that a helicopter crashed after hitting a transmission tower.

However, police suspect the helicopter crashed after striking a power cable based on witness accounts and the location of the crash.

Parts of an electric cable near the accident site are seen damaged. [YONHAP]

Parts of an electric cable near the accident site appeared damaged.

A sack of construction materials that the helicopter was carrying was also found near the site.

According to the Gimpo aviation information office which received the flight plan of the crashed helicopter, the helicopter was sent to patrol the area, not carry construction material.

According to the flight plan submitted at 6:56 a.m., the helicopter was supposed to depart from Hongcheon at 8 a.m. and patrol the skies over Hongcheon, Chuncheon, Inje and Hwacheon until 6 p.m.

However, the aircraft took off at 7:30 a.m. after its mission changed to "cargo transport," but no additional report was made to the aviation office in Gimpo.

An official from the office said they learned of the mission change only after the crash.

According to Yonhap, a witness to the crash said the helicopter disintegrated in midair with a thud after its tail touched the power cable.

The crash inflicted no secondary damage, and police are investigating the cause of the accident.

The 910-liter (240-gallon) chopper was one of nine helicopters leased by Gangwon provincial government to extinguish wildfires in spring and fall.

The provincial government said that the company recalled the crashed helicopter on March 9 after sending a larger helicopter instead.

BY PARK JIN-HO, CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]