South Korea says it has scrambled fighter jets and attack helicopters, firing warning shots, after North Korean drones “violated” its airspace.

The country’s joint chiefs of staff said several unmanned North Korean drones crossed the border and were detected in the South’s territory on Monday.

While working to counter the drones, a South Korean KA-1 light attack aircraft crashed shortly after departing its base in the country’s eastern area of Wonju, a defence ministry official said.

Its two pilots were able to escape before the crash and are now in the hospital, the official added.

South Korea’s transport ministry said earlier flights departing from its Incheon and Gimpo airports were suspended following a request from the military.

According to the South’s Yonhap news agency, the country tracked the drones crossing from North Korea over what is known as the Military Demarcation Line – the land border surrounded by a demilitarized zone – between the two countries.