US Army's Apache Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing; No Casualties

PYEONGTAEK/SEOUL, May 15 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- A United States Army helicopter made an emergency landing in a rice field south of Seoul on Friday, with no casualties reported, police and fire authorities said, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The AH-64E Apache aircraft made the precautionary landing at 11.52 am in a rice paddy in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, about 65 kilometres south of the capital, officials said.

Neither of the two pilots aboard the helicopter was injured. There were no reports of a fire or other secondary accidents.

The U.S. Forces Korea plans to repair and move the helicopter, which is expected to take two to three days, according to police.

"The situation is under control through coordination between military personnel and local authorities, and an investigation is under way to determine the exact cause of the landing," the US Eighth Army said.

Authorities were investigating the exact circumstances surrounding the incident based on statements from the pilots indicating there had been engine overheating, officials said.

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP