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South Korean fighter jets collided due to pilots taking pictures, report finds
Auditors said the air force shared blame for weak camera rules after the crash caused 880 million won in damage.
- In 2021, two F-15K jets collided mid-air during a mission over Daegu, South Korea, causing 880 million won in damage; both pilots survived without injuries.
- The collision occurred because the wingman pilot attempted to photograph his final military flight, a practice the Seoul Board of Audit and Inspection called "widespread" among pilots at the time.
- During the flight, the wingman abruptly flipped his jet to be filmed, forcing the lead pilot to descend to avoid crashing. The wingman argued the lead pilot had "tacitly consented" to the maneuver.
- Following an investigation, the Seoul Board of Audit and Inspection ruled the wingman pilot must pay 88 million won—one-tenth the original fine—citing the Korean air force's shared responsibility for lax camera regulation.
- Suspended after the incident, the wingman pilot has since left the military to work for a commercial airline. The report did not specify whether disciplinary actions were taken against other personnel involved.
47 Articles
47 Articles
Two South Korean fighter jets collide in a photo maneuver. A report reveals misconduct of the pilots and failures of the air force.
The South Korean Air Force has apologized to the nation for causing $600,000 in damage when two F-15 fighter jets collided in 2021. An investigation has now concluded that the accident occurred because one pilot was taking a selfie and the other was filming while in flight. The investigation found that the co-pilot began a steep climb and bank without permission to get a better camera angle for his final flight with the unit, while another pilot…
His attempt to get spectacular shots of himself led to a collision with another aircraft. However, he has to pay a significantly lower penalty than initially thought.
$600K Damage to Fighter Jets Due to Photo-Taking Pilot
An in-flight photo op spiraled into an expensive mid-air collision between two South Korean fighter jets in 2021, finds a new report from Seoul's Board of Audit and Inspection. The report, published Wednesday, found that a pair of F-15K pilots maneuvered their aircraft for pictures and video over…
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