South Korea’s air force yesterday apologized for a 2021 midair collision involving two fighter jets, a day after auditors said the pilots were taking selfies and filming during the flight and held them responsible for the accident.
“We sincerely apologize to the public for the concern caused by the accident that occurred in 2021,” an air force spokesman told a news conference, adding that one of the pilots involved had been suspended from flying duties, received severe disciplinary action and has since left the military.
The apology followed a report released on Wednesday by the South Korean Board of Audit and Inspection, which found that unplanned maneuvers for personal filming led to the collision between two F-15K jets during a formation flight near Daegu in December 2021.
Photo: courtesy of Colville McFee, US Air Force via Reuters
Auditors said a wingman pilot attempted to record images to mark his final flight with the unit, sharply climbing and banking the aircraft without clearance to improve the camera angle while another pilot filmed video from the lead jet.
As the aircraft closed in, both crews attempted evasive action, but the wingman’s tail struck the lead jet’s wing, causing about 880 million won (US$593,066 at the current exchange rate) in damage. No one was injured.
The audit board held the wingman pilot primarily responsible, but also criticized the air force for lax controls on in-flight filming at the time, ordering the pilot to repay about one-10th of the repair costs.
The air force said it was taking steps to tighten flight safety rules and prevent a repeat of the incident.
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