Seoul: The Navy announced plans to commence test flights of the P-3CK patrol aircraft next month, aiming to gradually resume operations of the military plane that was grounded following a fatal crash last year.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the test flights are scheduled to begin on September 1. This decision comes after comprehensive technical evaluations of the P-3 fleet, including airframe assessments by the U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey and maintenance contractors, which confirmed no defects.

The Navy has been taking gradual steps to resume operations of the entire P-3 fleet, which includes eight P-3Cs and seven P-3CKs. These operations were halted following a crash in May 2025 involving a P-3CK in Pohang, approximately 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The crash resulted in the deaths of all four Navy officers aboard, though no civilian casualties were reported.

Two months after the incident, the Navy resumed test flights for the P-3C planes. The Navy has stated its intention to resume P-3CK patrol missions once flight safety is assured through evaluations of the upcoming test and training flights.