Air Force retrieves gun pods accidentally dropped from KA-1 aircraft

SEOUL, April 19 (Yonhap) — The Air Force said Saturday it has retrieved two gun pods that accidentally dropped from a KA-1 light attack aircraft during training this week.

The aircraft was conducting flight maneuvers over Pyeongchang, approximately 125 kilometers east of Seoul, on Friday night when it jettisoned two gun pods and two empty fuel tanks.

No casualties or property damage have been reported.

“Starting at 6 a.m. today, we mobilized one HH-60 helicopter and around 270 troops to search the area where (the parts) were expected to have landed,” the Air Force said in a text message to the press. “We retrieved two gun pods in the mountainous region of the village of Jucheon in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province.”

The gun pods fell together with a machine gun and 500 rounds of 12.7 millimeter live ammunition. The fuel tanks and several dozen bullets have yet to be found.

“Due to rain at the search site, in consideration of safety, we plan to continue the search and recovery operation for the fuel tanks and the remainder of the jettisoned items tomorrow,” the Air Force said, adding it has confirmed no damage to civilians and an investigation is under way into the cause of the accident.

“The Air Force is once again sorry for causing concern to the people with this accident,” it said.