In a joint exercise with the United States, two South Korean KF-16 fighter jets accidentally dropped eight MK-82 bombs in a civilian area, injuring eight people. The bombs fell outside a firing range, according to a statement from the Air Force, which expressed its apologies and wished for a speedy recovery for the injured. They also communicated that they would offer compensation and take all necessary measures.
The South Korean Air Force indicated that the planes were participating in maneuvers in Pocheon, near the border with North Korea. The bombs impacted in the Idong-myeon district, causing damage to seven buildings, including a church.
After the incident, the South Korean Air Force established a response committee to investigate the causes and assess the damage due to the extensive destructive power of the MK-82 bombs involved. These bombs are used to attack infrastructure such as bridges and buildings, potentially creating craters of up to eight meters in diameter.
Local authorities expressed their concern and requested to halt the maneuvers in the city until measures are implemented to prevent future errors. The mayor of Pocheon described the bombings as "horrific" and called for concrete actions to prevent a recurrence of the event. Witnesses, such as Park Seong-sook, shared their experiences, describing the incident as terrifying and comparing it to the start of a war.
Investigations are ongoing to determine why the erroneous bombing occurred in Pocheon, with reports suggesting errors in the coordinates entered by the pilot of one of the planes and the need to clarify why the second fighter also dropped bombs in a civilian area.
