Memorials Set Up for Pilot Who Died in Helicopter Crash During Daegu Wildfire
On April 7, 2025, a joint investigation was conducted at the site of a helicopter crash in Daegu's Buk-gu, which occurred while battling a wildfire near the Ikokji area. The pilot, Jeong Mo (정모), aged 73, tragically lost his life in the incident. Memorial altars have been established at both the Dong-gu and Buk-gu district offices in Daegu to honor his memory. The Dong-gu office is where Jeong worked as a contracted helicopter pilot, while the Buk-gu office is located in the area where he died.
From April 9 to 11, the Dong-gu district will host a memorial altar for Jeong on the fourth floor of the district office's conference room. Similarly, Buk-gu has set up a memorial at the second floor of the Mutaejo-yadong Administrative Welfare Center. Jeong's funeral will take place at Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital from April 9 to 11.
Jeong was engaged in firefighting efforts on April 6 when the helicopter he was piloting crashed in a mountainous area of Buk-gu. He had a long career spanning 39 years, flying helicopters for the National Police Agency and private companies since 1986. Known for his strong sense of responsibility and kindness towards junior colleagues, he was highly respected in his field.
The Dong-gu district plans to submit a request for Jeong to be recognized as a deceased public servant due to his extensive experience flying helicopters for the police and his tragic death while performing his duties. If recognized as a public servant who died in the line of duty, he may be eligible for burial at the National Cemetery.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Aviation Accident Investigation Committee, in collaboration with police and fire authorities, conducted a joint on-site investigation starting at 10:30 AM today, lasting about an hour. Preliminary findings indicate that the crashed helicopter was an older model without a black box, and the auxiliary memory device was damaged by fire. Investigators are currently searching for the memory card (SD card) from the auxiliary device.
