Fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs outside a training range during a live-fire drill in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, injuring 15 people including villagers and soldiers and also destroying five homes along with several other buildings and structures.
Initial findings point to pilot error as the likely cause of the accident, as one of the pilots of the single-seat jets mistakenly entered incorrect coordinates for the intended targets.
A joint task force consisting of military personnel, firefighters, and local officials will investigate whether the pilots followed proper procedures and look into any safety lapses to determine the exact cause of the accident, while assessing the damage.
Temporary shelters and meals were provided for displaced residents, with about 30 households currently unable to return home.
Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Young-soo said, "We will implement measures to ensure this does not happen again by providing enhanced safety training for all pilots and munitions personnel." He also promised, "We will provide full compensation for the losses suffered by residents including physical, psychological, and property damage."
Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry has suspended all live-fire drills until the investigation is completed.
However, the annual joint exercise with the U.S., dubbed "Freedom Shield," scheduled for next week, will proceed as planned, while outdoor field drills are likely to be reduced.
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