South Korean air force blunder: Bombs drop on village, 31 hurt
The South Korean Air Force has confirmed that pilot error led to the accidental dropping of bombs on a village near Seoul. The incident resulted in 31 people being injured.
The South Korean Air Force disclosed that pilot error was the primary cause of the accidental bombing of the village of Pocheon, situated about 25 miles northeast of Seoul. According to the BBC, the incident occurred on 6 March during joint military exercises with the USA, which involved live ammunition.
As a result of the incident, 31 people were injured, including 12 civilians. A total of 152 buildings sustained damage. Two South Korean KF-16 fighter jets dropped eight MK-82 bombs outside the designated range. The South Korean Air Force stated that the pilot of the first aircraft failed to perform the necessary triple-check of the target.
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 statement, as cited by the Yonhap Agency.
Bombed village in South Korea
The MK-82 bomb is an unguided aerial weapon with an impact radius comparable to the size of a football pitch. It is used to destroy buildings and bridges, creating a crater approximately 26 feet in diameter and over 7 feet deep.
The South Korean Air Force immediately apologised for the tragic error and pledged to compensate all those affected. Until the incident is fully investigated, the military has decided to suspend all exercises involving live ammunition. The Mayor of Pocheon, Paek Young-hyun, noted that there are as many as three military ranges in the vicinity of the village where the bombs were dropped.
