The P-3CK four-engine anti-submarine and maritime surveillance plane dropped three Harpoon missiles, a torpedo, and depth charges into the sea, Yonhap news agency reported, citing the South Korean military.
“One of the plane’s crew mistakenly touched the emergency weapons release switch at around 6:10am,” an official source was cited as saying.
The weapons were not armed, and no civilians were affected by accident. “There was one fishing boat in the area but it sustained no damage,” he said.
The weapons fell into the water about 50 kilometers (31 miles) to the east of Yangyang, prompting a mine sweeper and salvage ship to be sent to the area.
