Two pilots who mistakenly dropped bombs face criminal charges in South Korea

The South Korean Defense Ministry announced today, March 13, that two fighter pilots have been criminally prosecuted for the incident in which a fighter jet mistakenly bombed a residential area last week.

On March 6, two KF-16 fighter jets of the South Korean Air Force dropped eight MK-82 bombs outside a training ground in Pocheon city, about 40 kilometers north of Seoul, during a live-fire exercise, injuring 38 people, including 24 civilians, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Officials inspect an area with damaged buildings after a Mk82 bomb was dropped from a KF-16 aircraft outside a shooting range during a live-fire exercise in Pocheon, South Korea, on March 6.

"The Criminal Investigation Command has confirmed in its investigation so far that the pilot's incorrect input of target coordinates was the direct cause of the accident," the South Korean Defense Ministry said in a statement to reporters.

The two pilots were prosecuted on March 13 for professional negligence leading to injury.

In an interim investigation released on March 10, the South Korean air force pointed to pilot error in the bombing, saying the pilots had at least three opportunities to discover their mistake after entering the wrong target coordinates before takeoff.

KF-16 fighter jet mistakenly dropped 8 bombs on residential area in South Korea

Specifically, the pilot was responsible for confirming the target by entering coordinates into the computer and checking the aircraft after the data transmission device was installed on the aircraft before takeoff. After takeoff, the pilot noticed that the flight path was slightly different from the preparation process but still dropped the bomb without verifying the coordinates for fear of time deviation.

"The pilot of the first aircraft should have checked the target at least three times during the assigned mission but did not do so," the air force said.

Meanwhile, the second pilot entered the exact coordinates into his plane but still dropped his bombs after the first, since the training was designed as a simultaneous attack exercise.

The South Korean Air Force also blamed the accident on inadequate management and inspection procedures, and fired two unit commanders for failing to give specific instructions to subordinates, according to Yonhap.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hai-phi-cong-nem-bom-nham-bi-khoi-to-hinh-su-tai-han-quoc-185250313093235562.htm