On May 29, 2025, a Lockheed P-3 Orion (registration 100917) operated by Republic of Korea Navy was involved in an aviation accident near Pohang, South Korea during takeoff. 4 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A training flight involving a four-person crew ended in a fatal crash in a wooded area near Pohang Airport during takeoff maneuvers.
What happened
A local training mission involving a crew of four departed from Pohang Airport at 13:43 local time. The flight was intended to consist of several touch-and-go maneuvers as part of a routine training program. Shortly after the departure, approximately six minutes into the operation, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent. The plane impacted a wooded area, where the impact resulted in a post-crash fire. There were four fatalities among the crew members on board.
Findings
The aircraft was operating under a flight plan designed for instructional purposes, specifically focusing on landing and takeoff sequences. During the execution of these maneuvers, the aircraft lost stability and began a rapid descent toward the ground. The crash occurred in a heavily vegetated zone, and the subsequent fire consumed the wreckage.