South Korean Navy Patrol Plane Crash Kills Four

A South Korean Navy P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft crashed near Pohang on May 29, 2025, during a training flight, killing all four crew members. The plane went down minutes after takeoff, igniting a hillside fire near an apartment complex, though no civilians were harmed. Emergency responders, including firefighters and helicopters, quickly arrived at the scene. The navy has grounded its entire P-3 fleet and formed a task force to investigate the cause of the crash. This incident is the first known crash involving South Korea's P-3 fleet and comes as the country prepares to transition to Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft by mid-2025. The tragedy has intensified scrutiny of military aviation safety in South Korea.