By the Associated Press
South Korea's air force said one of its F-15K fighter jets crashed Thursday at a mountain in the country's rural south.
FILE - In this Sept. 18, 2017, file photo provided by South Korea Defense Ministry, South Korea's air force F-15K fighter jets drop bombs as they fly over the Korean Peninsula during a joint drills with the U.S. The air force said one of its F-15K fighter jets crashed Thursday, April 5, 2018, at a mountain in the country's rural south. (South Korea Defense Ministry via AP, File/MANILA BULLETIN)
It isn't immediately clear what caused the crash or whether both pilots safely ejected. The air force said crews are searching for the pilots who were flying back to their base in the city of Daegu after an unspecified mission.
An official from the Chilgok Fire Department said dozens of firefighters and rescuers were approaching the site deep into the mountain by foot and didn't have visuals of the aircraft yet. He didn't want to be named, citing office rules.
An employee at a nearby golf club said he heard what seemed to be a succession of explosions that also left the club's building shaking.
"The fog was very thick and we couldn't see anything clearly," said the employee at the Gasan Country Club, who said the crash site was not far from the club's fourth hole. "There were several bangs that went off between gaps of a few seconds."
The employee also didn't want to be named, saying he wasn't authorized to speak to reporters.
The air force said no civilian injury or property damage had been reported yet.