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South Korea's air force issued a formal apology on Thursday for a 2021 mid-air collision between two F-15K fighter jets, after a state audit determined that the pilots were taking selfies and filming during the flight, leading to the accident. The apology came a day after the Board of Audit and Inspection released a report detailing the incident.

"We sincerely apologise to the public for the concern caused by the accident that occurred in 2021," an air force spokesman said in a press briefing, as reported by The Guardian and the South China Morning Post. The spokesman added that one of the pilots involved had been suspended from flying duties, received severe disciplinary action, and has since left the military.

Coverage Comparison

The incident has been covered by several international outlets, with reporting from The Guardian, the South China Morning Post, and the Jerusalem Post. While The Guardian and the South China Morning Post focused on the air force's apology and the audit's findings of lax controls, the Jerusalem Post, citing South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, provided additional details on the financial penalties imposed on the pilot.

Key Claims

  • The collision occurred in December 2021 near the city of Daegu during a formation flight, according to multiple sources.
  • The audit board found that the wingman pilot, a Major, was attempting to film his final flight before a transfer, and maneuvered his aircraft without clearance to improve the camera angle, as reported by The Guardian, the South China Morning Post, and the Jerusalem Post.
  • The wingman's tail struck the lead jet's wing, causing approximately 880 million won (about $600,000) in damage. No one was injured, according to the same sources.
  • The audit board held the wingman primarily responsible but also criticized the air force for lax controls on in-flight filming, as stated in The Guardian and the South China Morning Post.
  • The Defense Ministry initially ordered the Major to compensate the full repair costs, but the audit board reduced his liability by 90%, ruling he must pay 87 million won (about $60,000), as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • The pilot has since left the military, according to the air force spokesman, as reported by The Guardian and the South China Morning Post.

Perspectives

The air force's apology reflects an acknowledgment of institutional failure, as the audit criticized not only the pilot's actions but also the lack of oversight on in-flight filming. The financial penalty, reduced to about 10% of the repair costs, suggests a nuanced judgment that considered the pilot's negligence while also recognizing broader systemic issues. The incident highlights the risks of non-essential activities during military flights and has prompted the air force to tighten flight safety rules to prevent a recurrence, according to reports.