US helicopter makes hard landing,6 in hospital

A U.S. Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with 21 people aboard made a hard landing Tuesday in South Korea during a routine flight, the U.S. military said. The U.S. Forces Korea Command on its website said initial reports indicated there were 21 personnel aboard the helicopter, including five crew members from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit stationed in Okinawa, Japan. All were taken to a hospital in Yongsan, South Korea. Several hours after the incident, six people remained hospitalized, listed in stable condition, while 15 had been released, the report said. The extent of their injuries wasn't known. The report said the helicopter, described as a heavy lift aircraft capable of carrying dozens of troops, made a hard landing near Jipo-ri Range. It was conducting routine flight operations in support of exercise Ssangyong, a Korean Marine Exchange Program and part of the U.S.-South Foal Eagle drills currently under way. The cause of the incident wasn't immediately known but the report said CH-53E has an excellent operational safety record.