Pilot error leads to accidental bomb drop, 31 injured in Pocheon
The South Korean Air Force has revealed the reasons behind the accidental bomb drop on the village of Pocheon, which resulted in injuries to 31 people.
The incident occurred on 6th March during joint military drills with the USA. Due to an error, 31 individuals, including 12 civilians, were injured. This information was reported by the Yonhap agency.
During the exercises, two KF-16 fighter jets dropped eight MK-82 bombs outside the designated training area. The South Korean Air Force stated that the pilot of the first aircraft did not verify the target thoroughly enough.
Pilot's fault
"The pilot of the first aircraft should have double-checked the target at least three times throughout the process of the assignment but did not do so," stated the announcement.
According to the Yonhap agency, the pilot was required to confirm the target during the input of coordinates into the mission planning system and after installing the data transfer cartridge in the aircraft. As a result of the bomb drop, 152 buildings were damaged, and 31 people were injured, including 19 civilians.
The MK-82 bombs used are unguided aerial bombs designed for destroying buildings and bridges. They create a crater approximately 8 metres in diameter and over 2 metres deep, with a blast radius comparable to the size of a football pitch.
