Missing helicopter pilot found dead
![The civilian helicopter, which was participating in a fire drill, just before it submerged into the Gomori Reservoir in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, on Tuesday. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2023/10/03/9f3b168f-f8da-4091-bea6-f7d3594c0186.jpg)
The civilian helicopter, which was participating in a fire drill, just before it submerged into the Gomori Reservoir in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, on Tuesday. [YONHAP]
The 67-year-old pilot was found trapped in the submerged helicopter at 3 p.m.
According to the Gyeonggi Northern Fire and Disaster Headquarters, the helicopter crashed into the reservoir at 11:08 a.m. while conducting a fire drill, when it was picking up a large quantity of water.
The Pocheon city government had signed a contract to rent the six-passenger helicopter AS-350 from Oct. 4 until the end of this year for firefighting purposes.
The helicopter is believed to be submerged at a depth of 10 to 13 meters underwater.
Initially, it was reported that there were two people on board, but it was later clarified that only the pilot was aboard the helicopter.
Dozens of emergency responders including 30 or so drivers from the fire department were actively involved in the search for the missing pilot.
![A rescue team in search of a pilot on board a civilian helicopter that fell into the Gomori Reservior in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, on Tuesday. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2023/10/03/55549182-ac1b-4095-b864-29dee292816a.jpg)
A rescue team in search of a pilot on board a civilian helicopter that fell into the Gomori Reservior in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, on Tuesday. [YONHAP]
BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)