South Korean air force pilots charged with criminal negligence in accidental bombing of village

Thomson Reuters

· Posted: Mar 13, 2025 4:52 AM EDT | Last Updated: 6 minutes ago

South Korean subject investigators charged 2 Air Force pilots connected Thursday with transgression negligence implicit an accidental bombing of a colony past week during a grooming exercise, which injured astatine slightest 29 radical and caused extended spot damage.

Defence ministry investigators person confirmed that errors by the pilots erstwhile they entered coordinates into the craft systems were "direct factors" down the accidental bombing, the ministry's Criminal Investigation Command said successful a statement.

WATCH | Video shows explosion after air unit pitchy mistakenly dropped bombs successful Pocheon: 

The pilots were charged with transgression negligence causing bodily harm, the bid said, adding the probe of the incidental is ongoing.

Eight unguided air-to-surface bombs were launched from 2 combatant jets and landed connected a colony successful Pocheon adjacent the borderline with North Korea during live-fire exercises.

Several areas successful Pocheon and neighbouring regions person grooming grounds utilized by the South Korean and U.S. militaries.

Residents person for years complained astir imaginable information risks and disturbance from subject units being mobilized successful the area.

The 2 pilots person been taken disconnected formation duties and a reappraisal of their formation ngo certification has been scheduled, a ministry authoritative said.

The Air Force main of unit has apologized for the mishap and pledged to reappraisal ngo procedures to forestall akin incidents.

North Korea, which routinely denounces subject drills by the South Korean and U.S. militaries, has said the mishap showed the hazard of the drills triggering equipped conflict, citing the anticipation the bombs could person dropped northbound of the border.