- विज्ञापन -
Seoul: Two commanders from South Korea’s Air Force have been charged following an unprecedented accidental bombing of a civilian area last month, as officials released interim findings from the investigation into the fighter jet incident.
On March 6, two KF-16 fighter jets accidentally dropped eight MK-82 bombs outside a training range in Pocheon, approximately 40 kilometers north of Seoul, during live-fire drills, injuring 52 people, including 38 civilians, according to estimates from city authorities.
The two pilots involved are accused of mistakenly entering incorrect target coordinates prior to the live-fire exercises. They face charges of professional negligence resulting in injury and damage to military facilities, leading to their suspension from flying duties for a year.
The Ministry of Defense plans to refer both pilots and the unit commanders to military prosecution after completing the investigation and is seeking disciplinary action against nine officials who reportedly delayed reporting the incident and failed to take appropriate measures. This group includes seven from the Air Force and two from the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Additionally, the Air Force operations commander is expected to receive a warning for command responsibility due to inadequate reporting.
The preliminary investigation reaffirms previous findings indicating pilot error and insufficient management and inspection protocols as primary factors for the incident. It was reported that the pilots did not recognize their mistakes after entering the incorrect target coordinates into the joint mission planning system and dropped the bombs without visually confirming the target.
The investigation also revealed that the pilots did not conduct preparatory flights along the actual route of the live-fire drills, unlike other pilots involved in the March 6 exercises, and only realized the bombing error shortly after the incident.
A ministry official noted that the pilots continue to provide conflicting accounts regarding whether they misread or misheard the target coordinates, but this does not affect their accountability, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Regarding the two unit commanders charged with professional negligence leading to injury, the ministry found “substantial causality” between their actions and the incident. It stated that, although they were required to verify and inspect pilot readiness for training, they failed to address the risks associated with a live-fire drill and did not confirm the training plan.
Last month, the Air Force dismissed both the Colonel-level Group Commander and the Lieutenant Colonel-level Squadron Commander from their positions.
