S Korean helicopter crashes into sea near disputed islets, 7 missing

Rescuers are searching for seven missing South Koreans after their helicopter reportedly crashed into the sea on Thursday shortly after taking off from Dokdo, disputed islets between Japan and South Korea. According to international media, the chopper went down after it picked up an injured fisherman from Dokdo. Reportedly, the chopper was located by the rescuers 72 metres (240 feet), 600 metres south of the islets on Friday. The crashed helicopter was a 'Eurocopter EC225' and had seven people on board — five rescuers, one civilian and the fisherman. 

Speaking to a news agency, a fire official said, "The patient was on a fishing boat when he lost one of his fingers in an accident. The crew took him to Dokdo and was waiting for the rescue helicopter there. The patient needed immediate surgery that could have been performed only at facilities on the mainland." 

A Coast Guard representative told reporters that the chopper was not in its original shape due to the impact of the crash; the National Fire Agency and civilian boats are searching for the missing people. The defence ministry has also reportedly sent planes and divers to the area for the operation. 

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Seoul has controlled the islets in the Sea of Japan since 1945 which have been the centre of a bitter dispute between Japan and South Korea. Last month S Korean fighter jets had reportedly conducted a patrol fight over disputed islets as well. The South Korean President Moon Jae-in, while addressing the military also claimed that the F-15K is the most powerful fighter-bomber in northeast Asia and has returned after completing a patrol mission from Dokdo, without facing any problem. 

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UN peacekeeping helicopter crashed

In September, a UN peacekeeping helicopter Mi-24 crashed in the Central African Republic killing three Senegalese UN peacekeeping crew members and injuring one. The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix tweeted confirming the crash of one of the helicopters of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic while it was having its emergency landing due to bad weather. Air support was being given to a security operation by the chopper of the UN mission against the armed group in Nana-Mambere region, said Quoting Stephane, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General while speaking to foreign media. He said that the secretary-general Antonio Guterres and the United Nations have extended their condolences to the families of the deceased and the government of Senegal as well.  

(With PTI inputs)

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