What happened
During a scheduled maritime patrol mission over the East China Sea, a seaplane disappeared under undetermined conditions. While conducting the flight, the crew observed black smoke rising from the water approximately 10 kilometers away from the USS Swordknot. Personnel aboard the vessel immediately altered their course toward the location of the smoke to assist.
Upon arriving at the site near Jeju Island, search efforts yielded only a small amount of debris. The accident resulted in 14 fatalities, with no survivors reported among the occupants of the aircraft.
Findings
The specific circumstances surrounding the impact remain unknown, as the exact cause of the crash has not been established.