“The five included the 71-year-old pilot and a 54-year-old mechanic, who were initially believed to be the only two people on board,” Yonhap news agency reported.

The officials said that the helicopter, an S-58T on lease by the local governments of Yangyang, Sokcho, and Goseong, crashed on a hill around 10:50 a.m. local time on Sunday while surveying the area against forest fires.

An investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances of the crash. (ILKHA)