A South Korean Air Force KF-16 fighter jet unintentionally dropped eight bombs outside its designated training range during a live-fire exercise on Thursday, causing widespread damage and injuring seven civilians in Pocheon, 42 kilometers northeast of Seoul.
Unintended Bomb Drop Sparks Chaos
At approximately 10:04 am local time, the KF-16, engaged in a live-fire drill at a training range in Pocheon, released eight MK-82 bombs in an abnormal manner. The misfired ordnance landed on a road near residential areas, striking a house, a church, and six other buildings in the village. Fire authorities reported that the impact caused severe injuries, including bone fractures, to at least two people, while the remaining injured have since regained consciousness.
Immediate Response and Investigation
Following the incident, South Korean authorities and the Air Force launched an immediate investigation into the misfire. Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Park Ki-wan issued an apology on behalf of the Air Force, stating, “We are sorry for the civilian damage from the abnormal bomb release accident and wish for the swift recovery of those injured. We will actively take all necessary measures, including compensation for the damage.” Emergency services promptly transported the seven injured to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Broader Military Exercises and Regional Tensions
This incident occurred on the same day that South Korea and the United States conducted combined live-fire drills near the inter-Korean border. The joint exercise, held at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, involved over 160 pieces of military hardware—including K2 tanks, K55A1 self-propelled howitzers, Apache attack helicopters, and F-35A stealth jets—and was intended as a show of strength against North Korean military threats ahead of the annual springtime exercise.