Asia-Pacific

ROK surveillance plane crashes, two pilots die

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-12 16:55

A RF-4C surveillance plane is seen in this undated file picture released in Seoul November 12, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

SEOUL - Two pilots were confirmed dead after a South Korean Air Force surveillance plane crashed on Friday while conducting a mission, the Air Force was quoted as saying.

The RF-4C surveillance plane, which took off from an airport in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province at around 11:50 am local time, crashed during a "low-altitude" training flight at around 12:30 am local time after it went missing near rural town of Imsil, North Jeolla Province, some 260 km southwest of Seoul, South Korea's semi-official Yonhap News Agency reported, citing an Air Force official.

There were two pilots aboard the plane when the accident took place, the official said, adding that both were confirmed dead as the remains of their bodies and uniforms have been found by rescuers at the crash site.

Friday's accident was the second case involving the RF-4C plane in the country in recent years. In the previous accident in 2008, two pilots aboard survived after they ejected from the plane safely.