South Korean Air Force commander takes responsibility for bomb drop on outskirts of Seoul
General Lee Young-su, Commander of the South Korean Air Force (photo: Yonhap / koreaherald.com)
The commander of the South Korean Air Force, General Lee Young-su, has publicly apologized for the recent accidental bombing of a village near Seoul by KF-16 fighter jets. The incident resulted in nearly thirty casualties, according to Yonhap News Agency.
At a briefing, General Lee Young-su described the drop of MK-82 bombs by military aircraft on residential areas near the capital as an accident that should never have happened.
"The Air Force, which should protect the lives and property of the people, inflicted harm to the people. It was an accident that should never have happened, and one that should not recur," stated the Chief of Staff of the South Korean Air Force.
General Lee took full responsibility for this unprecedented accidental bombing of a civilian city. The Air Force commander pledged to take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
He also promised to do everything possible to help the residents of the affected area return to their daily lives, ensuring they receive full compensation, medical care, and crisis support.
Accidental bombing of Seoul's outskirts
On March 6, two KF-16 fighter jets in South Korea "abnormally" dropped eight bombs outside a training ground in Pocheon, about 40 kilometers north of Seoul.
The incident occurred during military exercises. As a result, 29 people were injured, including 15 civilians.
During a training exercise in #SouthKorea , a KF-16 fighter mistakenly dropped eight MK-82 bombs on a residential area in the city of Pocheon.
— Deccan Chronicle (@DeccanChronicle) March 6, 2025
Seven people were injured, four of them seriously. Several homes and a church were also damaged. (Pictures/Video courtesy : X)… pic.twitter.com/cfXqH3l9TF
Breaking. A KF-16 fighter jet mistakenly dropped eight MK-82 bombs on a residential area during a training exercise in Pocheon, South Korea, Yonhap reported.
— Hunter UA (@UaCoins) March 6, 2025
Seven people were injured, four of them seriously. Several homes and a church were damaged. pic.twitter.com/K4CBOLoBug
Investigation and preliminary findings
According to preliminary findings, the accidental bombing was caused by a pilot error, as one of the jet pilots entered incorrect target coordinates before takeoff. This was stated in the initial investigation of the incident.
South Korean military authorities have suspended all combat training until the exact cause of the accident is determined.
At the end of December 2024, South Korea experienced a tragic aviation disaster. A Jeju Air plane overshot half of the runway during landing, collided with a concrete structure, exploded, and burned. Of the 181 people on board, 179 passengers and crew members lost their lives. Only two survivors were found in the aircraft’s tail section.
