The incident occurred on 15/5 when an AH-64E Apache helicopter landed in a rice field in Pyeongtaek city, Gyeonggi province, located about 65 km south of Seoul. However, the information was only released by South Korean media today. The two crew members were not injured, and no fire resulted from the incident.

Images released by the US newspaper Stars and Stripes on 18/5 showed the helicopter still in the rice field. The aircraft belongs to the 2nd Infantry Division of the US army, stationed at Camp Humphreys. Two military personnel were guarding the helicopter and declined to comment.

Major Eileen Poole, spokesperson for the 2nd Infantry Division, stated that the Apache was not damaged, and officials are investigating the cause of the incident. "The situation is under control thanks to coordination between local authorities and the military", she said.

US officials did not specify whether the pilot issued a distress signal before the emergency landing or the reason for landing in the rice field. She emphasized that the safety of military personnel and the local community is a top priority.

Yonhap news agency previously reported that the aircraft's engine might have overheated, and the repair and relocation process was expected to take three days.

A US AH-64E helicopter in a rice field in South Korea on 18/5. Photo: Stars and Stripes

According to manufacturer Boeing, the AH-64 Apache multi-role armed helicopter is used by the US army and 15 other countries. The AH-64E is the most modern US variant, formerly known as the AH-64D Block III, featuring improvements in connectivity and information distribution capabilities, radar, and more powerful engines than older models.

The factory price for each AH-64E is approximately 35 million USD. Including the cost of components, technical support, weapons, and operational training, each AH-64E helicopter can cost up to 52-65 million USD.

Pham Giang (According to Yonhap, Stars and Stripes, Straits Times)