South Korea’s Air Force confirmed Thursday that one of its fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs during a training exercise, leading to civilian injuries. The MK-82 general-purpose bombs were mistakenly released from an Air Force KF-16 aircraft, landing outside the designated firing range in Pocheon, approximately 25 kilometres south of the North Korean border.
The incident occurred around 10:00 am (0100 GMT) and resulted in significant damage to a nearby village. South Korea’s National Fire Agency confirmed casualties, with four people seriously injured and three others suffering minor injuries. The bombs also damaged a church and sections of two houses, displacing residents.
The South Korean Air Force expressed regret over the unintended release of the bombs and announced the formation of an accident response committee to investigate. It also pledged to take all necessary measures, including compensating those affected.
The incident took place during joint live-fire exercises between the South Korean and U.S. military forces, which are part of their larger annual drills aimed at strengthening defence readiness. The South Korean government has vowed to ensure a thorough investigation into the mishap.
