▲ Authorities cordon off a site in Gapyeong County, about 55 kilometers northeast of Seoul, where an Army AH-1S Cobra helicopter crashed on Feb. 9, 2026. (Yonhap)

(4th LD) military helicopter-crash

(4th LD) 2 soldiers die after military helicopter crash in Gapyeong County

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GAPYEONG, South Korea/SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- Two soldiers died after a military helicopter crashed in a northern county Monday, officials said.

The AH-1S Cobra helicopter of the Army's 15th Aviation Group went down at 11:04 a.m. in Gapyeong County, about 55 kilometers northeast of Seoul, after taking off for flight training at 9:45 a.m.

The two warrant officers on board had been transported to hospitals in a state of cardiac arrest but succumbed to their injuries.

Authorities said the incident did not involve any fires or explosions. They plan to investigate the exact cause of the crash.

The accident occurred during flight training aimed at familiarizing emergency landing procedures for crew members.

The Army has grounded all flights of the AH-1S helicopter and launched a special investigative committee to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, who is visiting Saudi Arabia, has been briefed on the accident and called for swift follow-up measures, the defense ministry said.

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