Military officials in South Korea have issued a formal apology following revelations that a costly 2021 aircraft accident resulted from pilots taking photographs and recording videos while flying fighter jets.
During a Thursday press conference, an air force representative expressed regret over the December 2021 incident, stating: “We sincerely apologise to the public for the concern caused by the accident that occurred in 2021.” Officials confirmed that one aviator involved in the crash has been removed from flight status, faced serious disciplinary measures, and subsequently departed the armed forces.
The military’s statement came one day after South Korea’s Board of Audit and Inspection published findings that blamed unauthorized aerial photography for the collision between two F-15K fighter aircraft during a training mission near Daegu.
According to investigators, the wingman aviator was attempting to capture commemorative footage on his last flight with the squadron. Without authorization, he performed steep climbs and banking movements to create better camera angles while his colleague recorded from the lead aircraft.
When the two jets came dangerously close together, both flight crews tried to avoid impact, but the trailing aircraft’s tail section hit the leading plane’s wing. The collision resulted in approximately 880 million won in repairs, equivalent to about $600,000, though fortunately no personnel were hurt.
While auditors determined the wingman bore primary responsibility for the accident, they also faulted the air force for insufficient oversight of in-flight recording activities during that period. The pilot has been ordered to reimburse roughly ten percent of the damage costs.
Military leadership indicated they are implementing stricter aviation safety protocols to ensure similar incidents don’t occur in the future.
