South Korean Air Force pilot accused of criminal negligence in accidental bombing of village
South Korean military investigators on Thursday accused two Air Force pilots of criminal negligence for the accidental bombing of a village during a training exercise last week, wounding at least 29 people and causing serious property damage.
The Ministry of Defense’s Criminal Investigation Commander said in a statement that the Ministry of Defense investigators have confirmed that the pilot’s error when entering the aircraft system was a “direct factor” behind the accidental bombing.
Reuters verified social media videos match existing satellite images and compare settings with their own consequence images, showing the explosion of an Air Force jet mistakenly dropping bombs at Pocheon, home to about 160,000 residents, injured at least 15 people.
The commander said the pilot was charged with criminal negligence causing personal injury, adding that an investigation into the incident is underway.
During the live exercise, two fighters fired eight non-guided air-to-ground bombs and landed in a village in Pocheon near the border with North Korea.
Pocheon and several areas in the neighboring areas have training grounds used by South Korean and U.S. troops.
Residents have complained about the potential security risks and interference of military forces mobilized in the region for years.
The two pilots have been relieved of flight duties and are planning to review their flight mission certification, an official said.
The Air Force Chief of Staff apologized for the accident and promised to review the mission procedures to prevent similar incidents.
North Korea, which typically condemns military exercises by South Korean and U.S. forces, said the accident showed risks of training triggering armed conflict, citing bombs that could have landed north of the border.
