A South Korean Navy helicopter crashed into the East Sea during a joint maritime drill between South Korea and the United States, the Navy said Monday.

The Linx helicopter crashed into the East Sea at around 9:05 p.m., and a search is currently under way, the Navy said. Three soldiers were on board, it added.

The ill-fated chopper was participating in the combined maritime exercise in the East Sea as part of a show of force against North Korea's provocations. (Yonhap)