Synopsis
On April 14, South Korean officials announced that two Air Force unit commanders have been charged following an accidental bombing incident that injured 52 individuals in a civilian town. The preliminary investigation results reveal key factors, including pilot error and inadequate oversight, contributing to the incident.Key Takeaways
- Two unit commanders were charged for their roles in an accidental bombing.
- The incident occurred during live-fire drills on March 6.
- A total of 52 people were injured, including civilians.
- Investigations revealed pilot error and poor management as key factors.
- Disciplinary actions are being pursued against several officials.
Seoul, April 14 (NationPress) Two South Korean Air Force unit commanders have been charged regarding an unexpected bombing incident that affected a civilian area last month, officials reported on Monday, as the ministry unveiled the preliminary investigation findings of the fighter jet mishap.
On March 6, two KF-16 fighter jets inadvertently released eight MK-82 bombs outside a training zone in Pocheon, approximately 40 kilometers north of Seoul, during live-fire exercises, injuring a total of 52 individuals, including 38 civilians, as estimated by local authorities.
The two pilots, accused of mistakenly inputting the target coordinates before the live-fire exercises, face charges of professional negligence resulting in injuries and damage to military property. Additionally, they have been grounded for one year.
The ministry intends to forward the case of the two pilots and the unit commanders to military prosecution following the completion of the investigation, while also pursuing disciplinary measures against nine officials who were found to have delayed reporting the event and failed to take appropriate actions,” stated the ministry's criminal investigation command in a release.
The nine officials include seven from the Air Force and two from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as noted.
Furthermore, the ministry aims to issue a warning to the Air Force's operations commander, holding him responsible for command failures and inadequate reporting.
The recent findings corroborated an earlier interim investigation report issued by the Air Force, which attributed pilot error, poor management, and inadequate inspection protocols as primary factors contributing to the incident.
The pilots did not initially recognize their error after entering incorrect target coordinates into the joint mission planning system, proceeding to release the bombs without visual verification, according to the interim results.
Moreover, the findings indicated that the pilots did not undertake preparatory flights along the actual route of the live-fire drills, contrary to other pilots involved in the March 6 exercises, and acknowledged the mistaken bombing shortly after the occurrence.
A ministry official noted that the pilots continue to provide differing accounts on whether the target coordinates were misread or misheard; however, this discrepancy does not impede the accountability of both, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Concerning the two unit commanders who have also been charged with professional negligence leading to injury, the ministry affirmed that a substantial causality was determined between their actions and the incident.
The ministry emphasized, 'Despite their responsibility to verify and inspect pilot readiness for training, they neglected the dangers of a live-fire drill and failed to confirm the training plan.'
Last month, the Air Force relieved both a Colonel-level Group Commander and a Lieutenant-Colonel-level Squadron Commander from their duties.
