Operations Suspended After One Went Down In The Ocean Tuesday

The Republic of Korea Navy has temporarily grounded all 20 of its Lynx anti-submarine helicopters following an accident Tuesday that fatally injured three military personnel.

The Korea Times reports that the aircraft went down in the ocean during a joint exercise with the U.S. The bodies of the three people on board were recovered Tuesday and Wednesday. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Um Hyun-seong has formed a panel to investigate the accident.

According to the report, the aircraft declared an emergency and dropped off radar about eight minutes after it departed a Aegis destroyer at 2057 local time. It went down about 32 miles east of Yangyang, Gangwon Province in water that is about 800 feet deep.

Adm. Um Hyun-seong said the aircraft was first operated by the Navy in 1999, and had undergone routine maintenance in August. The pilot had about 770 hours of flying time. "Further investigation is necessary to find out what caused the accident," he said.

(Image from file)

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