SEOUL, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Two South Korean army soldiers died after their AH-1S Cobra attack helicopter crashed during a training exercise on Monday morning, military officials said.
The helicopter went down at 11:04 a.m. in Gapyeong County, about 34 miles northeast of Seoul, after taking off for flight training at 9:45 a.m., the army said in a text message to reporters. A cause for the crash has not yet been determined.
"The two occupants were urgently transported to a civilian hospital, but both unfortunately passed away," the statement said. "Both individuals held the rank of warrant officer."
The accident occurred during a training flight practicing emergency landing procedures without shutting down the engine, the army said.
No fires, explosions or civilian casualties were reported at the crash site. Local media Images from the scene showed the helicopter's fuselage covered by tarps near a rocky stream bank.
