Unintentional Fighter Jet Strike Injures 29, Including 15 Civilians in South Korea
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Synopsis
An accidental bombing by two South Korean fighter jets injured 29 people, including 15 civilians. The incident occurred during live-fire drills in Pocheon, prompting an investigation and suspension of live-fire exercises.
Key Takeaways
- 29 individuals injured, including 15 civilians
- Incident occurred during live-fire training
- Emergency services responded rapidly
- Investigation into pilot error underway
- Live-fire drills suspended until further notice
Seoul, March 7 (NationPress) The South Korean defence ministry reported on Friday that a total of 29 individuals, comprising 15 civilians, were injured due to an unintentional fighter jet bombing of a northern village earlier this week.
On Thursday, two KF-16 fighter jets mistakenly released eight MK-82 bombs outside a training area in Pocheon, located approximately 40 kilometers north of Seoul, during live-fire exercises, resulting in numerous injuries and property damage.
As of Friday, the injured included 15 civilians and 14 service members, among whom were six foreigners, as reported by the ministry, marking an increase from the 15 injuries reported the previous day. Notably, two South Korean civilians sustained serious injuries.
The six injured foreigners comprised four Thais, one Nepalese, and one Myanmar national, all of whom experienced minor injuries.
Currently, seven civilians, including one Thai and one Myanmar national, along with two soldiers, are receiving medical treatment at hospitals, according to the ministry.
Some service members were hurt after three bombs landed within a nearby Army base.
Acting Defence Minister Kim Seon-ho expressed regret over the incident, promising to make every effort to restore damaged property and provide compensation, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
“We will conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain the cause of this incident and will implement necessary measures to avert similar occurrences,” he stated.
The ministry has established an ad hoc committee to assist recovery efforts in the bombed village of Nogok-ri.
In the meantime, the military is also facing criticism for its relatively delayed response to the bombing incident.
Emergency services promptly responded to the bombing after receiving a report just one minute post-incident. However, the Joint Chiefs of Staff did not receive its initial report on the matter until approximately 20 minutes had passed.
Initial investigations suggest that pilot error may have led to the accidental bombing, as one of the pilots incorrectly entered the target coordinates before takeoff, according to an Air Force official.
The ministry has temporarily halted all live-fire drills until the precise cause of the incident is determined.
