Seoul: Two soldiers lost their lives following a military helicopter crash in a northern county, as confirmed by officials. The tragic incident involved an AH-1S Cobra helicopter from the Army's 15th Aviation Group, which went down at 11:04 a.m. in Gapyeong County, approximately 55 kilometers northeast of Seoul. The helicopter had taken off for flight training at 9:45 a.m.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the two warrant officers on board were transported to hospitals in a state of cardiac arrest but unfortunately succumbed to their injuries. Authorities have confirmed that the crash did not involve any fires or explosions. An investigation is underway to determine the precise cause of the accident.

The crash occurred during a flight training exercise focused on familiarizing crew members with emergency landing procedures. In response to the incident, the Army has grounded all flights of the AH-1S helicopter model and initiated a special investigative committee to ascertain the exact cause of the crash.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, currently visiting Saudi Arabia, has been briefed on the accident and has called for swift follow-up measures, as stated by the defense ministry.