CAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea — A 2nd Infantry Division Apache helicopter made an emergency landing in a rice paddy south of Chuncheon city Thursday evening, according to South Korean police.
The helicopter, from the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade’s 2nd Battalion 1st Regiment, left from Camp Eagle and landed at around 6:30 p.m. in Hoensung County, about 85 miles east of Seoul.
The two pilots were not injured, according to Hoensung police. No property damage was reported as a result of the landing, police said.
The pilots were navigating through foul weather when they received indications of a possible problem, a spokeswoman said.
“While hovering, a maintenance issue arose, so they decided to land the helicopter,” said U.S. Forces Korea spokeswoman Maj. Tanya Bradsher.
Soldiers checked the helicopter on site for damage and then cleared the helicopter for takeoff shortly afterward, Bradsher said.
U.S. military pilots are instructed to make precautionary landings when there is any indication of a potential systems malfunction.
