South Korean military investigators have charged two Air Force pilots with criminal negligence following last week’s accidental bombing of a village during a training exercise, which injured at least 29 people and caused severe property damage.
The Defence Ministry’s Criminal Investigation Command confirmed that pilot errors in inputting coordinates into the aircraft systems were direct factors behind the incident.
A social media video verified by Reuters captured the moment an air force jet mistakenly dropped bombs in Pocheon, a city with approximately 160,000 residents, injuring at least 15 people. The pilots now face charges of criminal negligence causing bodily harm, with the investigation still ongoing.
During the live-fire exercises, eight unguided air-to-surface bombs were launched from two fighter jets, hitting a village near the North Korean border. Several areas in Pocheon and neighboring regions serve as training grounds for the South Korean and U.S. militaries, with residents long expressing concerns about safety risks and disruptions caused by military activities.
Officials have been inspecting damaged buildings, with photos showing extensive destruction. The two pilots have been removed from flight duties, and a review of their flight mission certification is planned. The Air Force chief of staff has apologized for the incident and vowed to review mission procedures to prevent future errors.
North Korea, which frequently condemns South Korean and U.S. military drills, has warned that such incidents highlight the potential for military exercises to escalate into armed conflict, citing the possibility that the bombs could have landed north of the border.
Source: Swifteradio.com
