SOUTH KOREAN AIRCRAFT

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28559, 12 April 1958, Page 14

SOUTH KOREAN AIRCRAFT

Forced Landing By Wounded Pilot (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SEOUL, April 10. A badly wounded South Korean Air Force pilot today prevented his C4B transport aircraft from being diverted to North Korea by making a forced landing at Pyongtaik Airport, south of Seoul, it was officially stated at Seoul today. An Air Force spokesman said that the aircraft's radio operator was shot and killed. A South Korean Air Force captain had tried to ‘‘hijack” the aircraft to Communist North Korea at gunpoint, the Air Force announced, according to an American Associated Press report The spokesman said that the attempt to take over the aircraft was made while it was on a special flight from Taegu to Seoul.

A South Korean Air Force captain drew a revolver, forced his way into the crew’s cabin, and ordered the pilot to fly north. The pilot refused and the captain fired two shots, seriously wounding the pilot and killing the radio operator. Although the pilot was badly wounded and suffering from loss of blood, he fought for possession of the controls and managed to make a forced landing at Pyongtaik Air Base near Seoul. An official South Korean Air Force statement identified the officer who attempted to taka over the aircraft as Captain Choi, but his full name was withheld. The statement said that a number of South Korean Air Force officers and men were in the aircraft and they finally overpowered Captain Choi.

Shed Fire.— A. fire in a workmen’s shed in Brookside terrace, the property of the Walmairi County Council, was attended by one unit from the Sockburn fire station at 11.46 a.m. yesterday. Some materials in the shed were burnt.