The Korea Herald

피터빈트

U.S. military helicopter burned after emergency landing in southern Korea

By 박한나

Published : June 29, 2012 - 18:51

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A U.S. military helicopter burned after making an emergency landing at a southern seaside village in South Korea on Friday, rescue authorities said.

No casualties were reported.

The MH-53 helicopter from the U.S. Navy made the emergency landing on a rice paddy in Pohang, 374 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at 12:30 p.m. while performing flight training, according to the southern branch of the Pohang Fire Station.

After hitting the ground, a fire that started on the rotor destroyed the helicopter before being put out by firefighters sent to the scene.

All twelve U.S. soldiers aboard the helicopter quickly evacuated and no injuries or further damage was reported, the fire station said.

"The fire began at the propeller following the emergency landing and moved into the fuel tank and the main body," a fire station official said. "No damage was reported except the destruction of the aircraft."

The cause of the unexpected landing is not immediately known.

The helicopter was delivering soldiers and military supplies to a Navy unit.

Police and the U.S. military are jointly studying the cause of the accident. (Yonhap News)