Training exercise gone wrong

Cobra Attack Helicopter Crashes in South Korea, Killing 2 Pilots | WATCH

A South Korean Army AH-1S Cobra helicopter crashed during a training flight in Gapyeong, killing both crew members. The military has grounded its entire aging Cobra fleet as a special investigation team works to determine the cause

Bianca Jones

FEB 9, 2026 15:43

2 min read

A South Korean Army Bell AH-1S Cobra attack helicopter crashed today (Monday) at approximately 11:04 a.m. local time during a routine training flight in Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province.The helicopter was practicing emergency procedures, including emergency landings and autorotations, when it went down for unknown reasons in a rocky/stream area near Hyeon-ri in Jojong-myeon, close to Sinha Bridge.

No fire or explosion was reported.

Both crew members, two warrant officers, one in his 30s and one in his 50s, were found unconscious at the crash site. They were transported to nearby civilian hospitals but were pronounced dead upon arrival after going into cardiac arrest.

In immediate response, the Republic of Korea Army grounded the entire remaining AH-1S Cobra fleet and formed a special investigation team, led by a senior officer, to determine the cause of the crash. The investigation is ongoing.

The AH-1S is a Vietnam-era attack helicopter that South Korea has operated for decades. The fleet had been slated for retirement years ago, with some targets set as early as 2024, but delays in acquiring and introducing newer replacement helicopters forced the military to continue flying the aging aircraft.

This marks a tragic loss for the South Korean Army Aviation Command. The grounding will temporarily reduce the availability of attack helicopters until the investigation is complete or alternative aircraft are reassigned.

No official cause has been released.

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