South Korea charges two ROKAF pilots for accidental bombing of village
South Korean military investigators have charged two Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) pilots over the accidental bombing of a village during a joint military exercise with the United States.
The bombing occurred on March 6, 2025, in Pocheon, a northern city in South Korea, when two KF-16 fighter jets from South Korea’s Air Force mistakenly released four bombs each, totaling eight bombs, outside the designated training area.
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According to the recent findings from the South Korean Ministry of National Defense seen by Yonhap News Agency, the pilots have been charged with professional negligence that led to injuries to 15 people. Additionally, they are charged with causing damage to military property, including a church.
“The Criminal Investigation Command has confirmed in the probe to date that the pilots’ erroneous entry of target coordinates was the direct cause of the accident,” the ministry told local reporters.
In a preliminary report released on March 10, 2025, the South Korean Air Force found that the accidental bombing had been caused by pilot error. The investigators noted that the pilots had three chances to correct the error after mistakenly entering incorrect target coordinates before takeoff.
The Air Force also cited poor management and inspection procedures as contributing factors and dismissed two-unit commanders for not providing clear instructions to their teams, Yonhap News continued.
According to Yonhap News, the computer system automatically recalculated a new altitude after the pilots incorrectly entered the target’s latitude. However, the pilots adjusted the altitude manually as per their training plan.
The Air Force plans to hold a meeting next week to decide if the two pilots are fit to continue flying.
The post South Korea charges two ROKAF pilots for accidental bombing of village appeared first on AeroTime.
South Korean military investigators have charged two Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) pilots over the accidental bombing…
The post South Korea charges two ROKAF pilots for accidental bombing of village appeared first on AeroTime.
