On Thursday, a routine military drill in South Korea turned disastrous when two KF-16 fighter jets inadvertently dropped eight bombs on a civilian district, resulting in 15 injuries, including two serious cases. The incident took place in Pocheon, near the North Korean border, raising concerns over military safety protocols and the potential risks civilians face during military operations.
Accidental Bomb Drop by South Korean Jets Injures 15 Civilians
Accidental Bomb Drop by South Korean Jets Injures 15 Civilians
Severe incident occurs during military exercise as two fighter jets mistakenly release bombs in populated area.
Fifteen individuals were injured, two of them critically, when South Korean Air Force fighter jets mistakenly released eight MK-82 bombs during a live-fire drill in a civilian area of Pocheon on Thursday. Local authorities reported that the military exercises, intended to bolster defense readiness against North Korea, took a tragic turn as a result of pilot error – with one jet miscalculating coordinates for bomb deployment.
Witnesses described the sudden explosion as a sound akin to a thunderclap. Among the injured was a 60-year-old motorist who suffered shrapnel wounds. The Air Force confirmed an investigation into the incident is underway and has pledged compensation to affected residents. Additionally, two nearby buildings, including a church, sustained damage during the explosion.
Pocheon authorities had to evacuate residents as a bomb disposal team assessed the situation, though no unexploded ordnance was ultimately found. The event sparked alarm reminiscent of a previous military drill mishap in 2022, where a missile malfunctioned near a civilian area, leading to safety concerns around ongoing military exercises amid rising tensions with North Korea and Russia. The Air Force has since suspended live-fire drills pending the outcome of their investigation.
