'Engine Failure' KF-16 Crashes into Yangpyeong Hills... Military Orders Grounding of All Aircraft Models (Comprehensive)

"Pilot to be transported to hospital... No civilian casualties"
Air Force suspends flights except reconnaissance assets and emergency standby

Air Force KF-16 Fighter Jet

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] One Air Force KF-16 fighter jet crashed into a mountain in Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province due to an engine malfunction. So far, no civilian casualties have been confirmed, and the military authorities plan to suspend flights of the aircraft model until the cause of the accident is determined.

According to the Air Force on the 20th, a KF-16 fighter jet belonging to the 19th Fighter Wing experienced an engine malfunction while performing a mission in a mountainous area of Yangdong-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, about 20 km west of Wonju base, Gangwon Province, at around 8:05 p.m. The pilot who ejected safely is reported to be unharmed and is scheduled to be transported to the Air Force Aerospace Medical Center. The crashed fighter jet was confirmed to be a single-seat KF-16C.

The fighter jet was reportedly equipped with some armaments, including air-to-air missiles, but no civilian damage has been reported so far. The military plans to continue verifying any possible damage.

Additionally, the Air Force has suspended flights of all aircraft models except reconnaissance assets and emergency standby forces, and flights of the KF-16 model will be suspended until the cause of the accident is clarified. An accident investigation committee will be formed with Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff Yoon Byung-ho as chairman to investigate the cause of the accident.

This fighter jet crash is the first in three months since an F-4E fighter jet crashed into the West Sea in Seosin-myeon, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province on August 12. At that time, both pilots safely ejected.

The crashed KF-16 is an F-16 series fighter jet introduced through the first phase of the next-generation fighter program (KFP). The Air Force decided to introduce F-16C/D fighters (Block 32) under the 'Peace Bridge' force enhancement project in 1981 and acquired 40 units by 1992. Subsequently, under the first KFP, the Air Force decided to introduce F-16C/D Block 52, acquiring 12 units directly from the U.S. and 36 units through assembly production. A total of 72 units were operationalized by assembling and producing domestically manufactured parts.

The KF-16 experienced its first crash in August 1997, followed by another crash in September of the same year. Both accidents were attributed to corrosion in the fuel lines. Later, in February 2002, one unit crashed due to engine turbine blade failure, and in February 2007, a maintenance error caused another accident. In July of the same year, a crash caused by pilot error occurred over the West Sea, resulting in two fatalities. Additionally, in March 2009, a crash was caused by pilot error, and in February 2019, another unit crashed due to a parts failure.

The KF-16, manufactured by Lockheed Martin in the U.S., has a maximum takeoff weight of 19.18 tons, a length of 15 meters, a maximum speed of Mach 2.0, and a maximum altitude of 15,240 meters. It is equipped with an AN/APG-68 radar with extended detection range and improved performance. Its armaments include AIM-120 medium-range air-to-air missiles and AGM-84 air-to-air Harpoon missiles. When equipped with AGM-88 (HARM) air-to-ground anti-radar missiles, it can conduct operations to suppress enemy air defense networks.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.