Fifteen people were injured, two seriously, after two South Korean KF-16 fighter jets mistakenly dropped eight bombs in a civilian district during a live-fire military exercise. The incident occurred at around 10:04 local time (01:04 GMT) in the city of Pocheon, near the North Korean border.
South Korea’s Air Force has launched an investigation into the mishap and issued an apology for the damage caused, pledging compensation for those affected. The military stated that one of the pilots accidentally inputted the wrong coordinates, leading to the unintended bomb drop. The cause of the second jet’s erroneous release remains under investigation. All live-fire exercises have been suspended pending further review.
The explosion led to significant damage, including broken windows and a damaged roof of a church building. A local resident described the impact as a sound “like a thunderclap” that shook his home. Another victim, a 60-year-old driver, was hit by shrapnel in the neck and lost consciousness before waking up in an ambulance. Two others sustained fractures to their necks and shoulders, while multiple others suffered minor injuries. A senior citizen care center in the area also had its windows shattered, prompting staff to send frightened residents home.
Authorities quickly evacuated the area and deployed a bomb disposal team to check for any unexploded ordnance. However, officials later confirmed that no unexploded bombs were found at the scene.
The training exercise was part of a joint military drill with the United States, which is set to continue with larger-scale operations from March 10 to March 20. These drills, the first since US President Donald Trump’s return to office, come at a time of heightened security concerns over North Korea’s growing ties with Russia.
This is not the first time a joint drill has resulted in unintended consequences. In 2022, a short-range ballistic missile malfunctioned and crashed onto a golf course within a military base, causing widespread panic among nearby residents.
South Korea’s defense ministry has vowed to enhance safety measures in future drills to prevent similar incidents. Meanwhile, affected residents are left dealing with the shock and damages caused by the unexpected military mishap.
