A South Korean maritime patrol aircraft carrying four people crashed near a military base in the southern city of Pohang on Thursday afternoon, the navy confirmed.
The incident occurred at 1:43 p.m. local time (4:43 a.m. GMT), according to an official navy statement. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the crash and assessing potential casualties.
Earlier reports from Yonhap News Agency, citing officials, indicated that the aircraft went down in mountainous terrain along the east coast. A civilian witness reported seeing smoke rising from the crash site.
Rescue and recovery efforts are underway as military personnel work to determine the full extent of the incident.