Pilot error leads to accidental bombing in South Korea
The South Korean Air Force confirmed that pilot error led to the accidental dropping of bombs on a village near Seoul. As a result, 31 people were injured.
The South Korean Air Force revealed that pilot error was the main cause of the accidental bombing of the village of Pocheon, located about 25 miles northeast of Seoul. According to the BBC, the incident occurred on March 6 during joint military exercises with the USA, where live ammunition was used.
This incident resulted in 31 people being injured, including 12 civilians. A total of 152 buildings were damaged. Two South Korean KF-16 fighter jets dropped eight MK-82 bombs outside the designated training area. In its statement, the South Korean Air Force indicated that the pilot of the first aircraft failed to fulfill the requirement of triple target verification.
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 a blast radius comparable to the size of a soccer field. It is used for destroying buildings and bridges, creating a crater approximately 26 feet in diameter and over 7 feet deep.
The South Korean Air Force apologized for the incident shortly after the tragic mistake and committed to compensating all those affected. Until the incident is fully clarified, the military has decided to suspend all maneuvers involving live ammunition. The mayor of Pocheon, Paek Young-hyun, stated that there are as many as three military training grounds near the village where the bombs fell.
