This July 13, 2016, file photo, provided by the Defense Arms Procurement Agency, shows the P-3C maritime patrol aircraft. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 9 (Korea Bizwire) — The Navy said Wednesday it plans to begin flight training for the P-3C maritime patrol aircraft this week, as part of preparations to resume operations of the aircraft that had been grounded following a fatal crash in May.
A Navy P-3CK patrol plane crashed on a mountain in Pohang, about 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in May, six minutes after taking off for routine training. All four Navy officers aboard died, while no civilian casualties were reported.
As part of response measures, the Navy had grounded all P-3 aircraft, including the P-3C and the P-3CK, and conducted a safety inspection.
Prior to the flight training set to begin on Thursday, the Navy conducted a comprehensive analysis, including a safety inspection of the aircraft and on whether crew members are mentally prepared to resume operations, the armed service said.
“Crew members who have completed flight training will carry out maritime patrol operation in phases,” it added.
The Navy, however, said the operation of the P-3CK will resume only after completing a review of the ongoing probe into the exact cause of the crash.
(Yonhap)
