KF-16 fighters mistakenly bomb village in South Korea: What we know
The eight MK-82 bombs fell outside the training field in Pocheon, hitting the village.
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KF-16 fighter jets from the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) mistakenly bombed a village 40 km from Seoul, leaving 15 people injured and causing significant property damage.
According to Yonhap News Agency, on March 6, during a live-fire exercise as part of joint South Korean-U.S. military drills near the North Korean border, two KF-16 fighter jets from the South Korean Air Force accidentally dropped eight MK-82 500-pound free-fall bombs outside the Pocheon training range, located 40 kilometers north of Seoul.
The incident resulted in at least 15 injuries, ranging from minor to severe, affecting civilians, soldiers, and foreign nationals. Additionally, the blast caused damage to a church and seven other civilian buildings.
Human Error Suspected as the Likely Cause
Initial investigations suggest that human error was responsible for the accident, as one of the pilots entered incorrect targeting coordinates before the strike.
Military authorities have apologized for the civilian damage and stated that they will take all necessary actions, including compensation. For now, live-fire exercises have been temporarily suspended while an investigation is conducted under the leadership of Lieutenant General Park Ki-wan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
The accident occurred during joint South Korean-U.S. drills near the inter-Korean border, part of ongoing combined operations to counter threats from North Korea. This is the first accidental bombing with casualties involving South Korean fighter jets, raising concerns about safety protocols in live-fire exercises.
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