SOUTH KOREAN ARMY HONOURS PILOTS KILLED IN HELICOPTER CRASH IN FUNERAL SERVICE

SEOUL, Feb 12 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- South Korea’s Army on Thursday held a funeral service, led by its chief of staff, to honour two pilots killed in a helicopter crash during a training flight earlier this week, Yonhap News Agency reported,

On Monday, an AH-1S Cobra attack helicopter carrying two Army warrant officers -- each in their 30s and 50s -- fatally crashed in Gapyeong, about 55 kilometres northeast of Seoul, during flight training for emergency procedures. No civilian damage was reported.

"The two (pilots) did not let go of their control columns until the end and protected the people's lives and safety," Army Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Gyu-ha said in the service held at a military hospital, pledging to remember their devotion and sacrifice.

The two pilots will be laid to rest at the Seoul National Cemetery later in the day. In a review committee held earlier this week, the Army recognised that both service members were killed in the line of duty.

Following the accident, the Army has grounded all Cobra attack helicopters and launched an investigative committee comprising around 40 military, civilian and government officials to determine the exact cause of the crash.

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP