South Korean Surion Helicopter Destroyed After Collision with Israeli Heron Drone during Landing

A South Korean Army KUH-1 Surion helicopter was destroyed by fire after an Israeli-made Heron drone collided with it during landing at an airfield in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, on March 17, according to local media.

The Army Ground Operations Command reported that the incident occurred around 1:00 p.m. when the drone struck the parked helicopter, triggering a fire that was extinguished within 20 minutes. No injuries were reported, and authorities have ruled out North Korean involvement.

The accident resulted in the total loss of both the Surion helicopter and the Heron reconnaissance drone. The 18.5 billion won ($14 million) helicopter had been fully fueled, contributing to the fire. The Heron is a medium-altitude UAV, measuring 8.5 meters in length with a 16.6-meter wingspan, designed to monitor ground targets from an altitude of 10 kilometers. The South Korean military acquired the drone in 2013 for 3 billion won ($2 million) per unit.

The incident took place within the 209th Aviation Battalion of the 11th Aviation Group, a unit that was initially established in 2018 with only KUH-1 helicopters but later expanded to operate UAVs.

The Heron drone has been involved in similar landing incidents in 2018 and 2024, with previous investigations ruling out external interference. However, the latest crash raises concerns about whether adequate security checks were conducted before its deployment.

This incident follows another military accident earlier this month. On March 6, South Korean Air Force KF-16 fighter jets mistakenly dropped eight 230-kilogram Mk82 bombs on a populated area in Pocheon during joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises. The errant strike damaged seven buildings, including a church, and injured seven civilians—four seriously.

A military investigation determined that the pilots had entered incorrect coordinates and failed to follow in-flight verification procedures. Both pilots have been charged with professional negligence resulting in injuries.