South Korean Fighter Jets Collided Mid-Air Due to Pilots Taking Photos, Report Finds
An official investigation in South Korea has revealed that a mid-air collision between two fighter jets in 2021 was caused by pilots taking photos and videos during a flight mission.
The incident occurred over the central city of Daegu, according to a report released by Seoul’s Board of Audit and Inspection.
Photo-Taking Led to Dangerous Maneuver
Authorities found that one of the pilots, flying as the wingman, began taking pictures with a personal mobile phone while returning to base. The pilot had reportedly planned to document the flight as it was his final mission with the unit.
At the same time, the lead aircraft’s crew attempted to record video footage of the wingman jet.
In an effort to improve the shot, the wingman pilot performed a sudden maneuver, climbing and flipping the aircraft to get a better angle. This brought the two F-15K jets dangerously close.
The lead aircraft attempted to avoid a collision by descending rapidly, but both jets ultimately made contact, damaging the lead aircraft’s wing and the wingman aircraft’s tail.
No Injuries, But Costly Damage
Both pilots survived the incident without injuries, but the collision caused significant damage, costing approximately 880 million won (around $596,000) in repairs.
The wingman pilot was initially ordered to pay the full repair cost, but after an appeal and investigation, authorities reduced the penalty to 88 million won.
Shared Responsibility Highlighted
The audit board concluded that while the wingman pilot’s actions directly led to the collision, the air force also bore responsibility for failing to regulate the use of personal devices during flights.
The report noted that taking photos during significant flights had been a “widespread practice” among pilots at the time.
Officials also considered the pilot’s previous good service record and his ability to safely land the damaged aircraft when reducing the fine.
Aftermath
The pilot was suspended following the incident and has since left the military to work in the commercial aviation sector.
The report did not specify whether any disciplinary action was taken against other crew members involved.
