Helicopter crashes into Seoul high-rise, killing 2

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (BNO NEWS) -- A private helicopter owned by electronics manufacturer LG crashed into a high-rise apartment building in the South Korean capital of Seoul on early Saturday, killing two pilots, officials said. There were no casualties in the building or on the ground.

The accident happened at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time when the medium-size Sikorsky S-76C helicopter crashed into the upper floors of a 38-story luxury apartment building in the posh Gangnam district of Seoul. The aircraft then fell down in an open area near a line of trees, but only its tail section remained mostly intact.

Emergency officials said no one inside the apartments or on the ground was injured, but both pilots on board the aircraft were killed in the crash. Footage from the scene showed shattered windows and heavy exterior damage affecting at least four separate apartments on four floors, but no fire broke out.

About 300 firefighters and police officers responded to the crash.

It was not immediately clear what caused Saturday's accident, which occurred amid thick fog in the region. Authorities indicated the aircraft may have slightly deviated from its course, but investigators were waiting to retrieve data from the aircraft's black box that was recovered later on Saturday.

LG Electronics confirmed it owned the helicopter and said it had taken off from Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul at 8:46 a.m. local time. The aircraft was flying to a heliport near the apartment building in Gangnam district, where several senior LG officials were waiting to be picked up and flown to a factory in the southwestern city of Jeonju.

(Copyright 2013 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: [email protected].)