Firefighting Helicopter Crashes During Rescue Operation in Jirisan... Patient and Guardian Dead (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] On the afternoon of the 1st, at around 12:06 PM, a firefighting helicopter performing a rescue operation near Jirisan Cheonwangbong in Jungsan-ri, Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam, made an emergency landing, resulting in the deaths of two people, including a patient and a guardian.

According to the firefighting authorities, the accident helicopter departed from the Aviation Rescue Unit in Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongnam, at around 11:28 AM after receiving a mountain accident rescue request.

It then arrived at a point 400 to 500 meters from Jirisan Cheonwangbong towards Beopgyesa Temple around 12:00 PM and began rescue operations.

The helicopter hovered low in the air and attempted to rescue the stranded person by lowering a stretcher for patient transport using a hoist (a small crane). However, while rescuing the patient, the helicopter suddenly descended downward and made an emergency landing.

A Fire Agency official stated, "It is understood that the helicopter made an emergency landing suddenly rather than crashing, and the aircraft was not severely damaged."

As a result of this accident, a 65-year-old man who showed cardiac arrest symptoms while hiking and his 61-year-old wife, who was assisting with the rescue under the helicopter, were struck by the helicopter, sustaining serious injuries and were transported to the hospital but ultimately passed away. Additionally, it was confirmed that a 45-year-old hiker who was hiking at the time was grazed by the falling helicopter fuselage and sustained minor injuries to the waist.

The firefighting helicopter involved in the accident had five firefighting personnel on board, including the pilot, co-pilot, mechanic, rescue team member, and paramedic, but none sustained serious injuries.

The helicopter involved in the accident belongs to the Gyeongnam Provincial Fire Headquarters and is a Sikorsky S-76 model leased from the private sector, capable of carrying up to 14 people.

According to video footage reviewed by the firefighting authorities, while pulling the stretcher upward, the hoist cable connected to the helicopter appeared to have caught on something, causing it to jerk and lose balance, leading to the fall.

The firefighting authorities issued a Level 1 response, with up to four fire stations jointly responding and conducting rescue operations at the scene.

Currently, a field command post has been established at the Jungsan-ri Gyeongnam Nature Learning Center to manage the accident site, and plans are in place to investigate the cause of the accident and provide support to the victims' families.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.