Air Force fighter crashes into hill

A South Korean Air Force F-4E Phantom fighter crashed into a hill and exploded in Kumsan, South Chungchong Province at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday. But the two crewmen, pilot Major Hong Myong-Kee and Capt. Kim Chung-Hoon, bailed from the plane before its crash.

The ill-fated aircraft, belonging to the 17th Fighter Wing, took off from its air base at 1:45 p.m. and was engaged in a special maneuvering drill. The cause for the accident has yet to be determined.

Meanwhile, flames from the crash destroyed 10 nearby green houses and 0.5 hectare of forest before nearby farmers put out the blaze.

Lee Ki-Jin doyoce@donga.com