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The Air Force has decided to reinforce and strengthen procedures for double-checking target coordinates in order to prevent accidental bombing incidents by fighter jets.

On the morning of the 10th, the Air Force announced interim investigation results and recurrence prevention measures regarding the accidental bombing incident involving a KF-16 fighter jet in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province. According to the Air Force, this incident was a "man-made disaster" caused by the failure to properly carry out the three-step process of re-verifying target coordinates.

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The issue began with the incorrect entry of target coordinates on the day before the incident (the 6th). The pilot of aircraft No. 1 read out the route coordinates including the target, and the pilot of aircraft No. 2 entered them into the Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS). During this process, the latitude coordinate ×× 05.××× was mistakenly entered as ×× 00.×××. However, they did not re-verify this.

This situation was repeated on the day of the incident (the 7th). While saving the incorrectly entered data from JMPS to the Data Transfer Cartridge (DTC), a device error prevented the data from being saved to aircraft No. 2's DTC. The pilot of aircraft No. 2 then manually entered the correct target coordinates. As a result, the incorrect coordinates were entered for aircraft No. 1, and the correct coordinates for aircraft No. 2. Even during the second verification process after takeoff, the pilot of aircraft No. 1 failed to notice the incorrect entry.

The same applied during the bomb release phase. Although the pilot of aircraft No. 1 sensed that the terrain in the target area was different from the training, he relied on the incorrect flight information and proceeded with the mission. At this stage, a visual confirmation procedure should have been conducted, but it was not properly carried out in order to meet the designated Time On Target (TOT). Although the correct coordinates were entered for aircraft No. 2, the pilot was solely focused on maintaining formation and simultaneous bomb release, and thus did not recognize the error.

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Supervision and oversight by the unit commander, in addition to the pilots, were also inadequate. The Air Force analysis indicated insufficient management and supervision of detailed flight readiness, such as checking the mission formation's flight data recorder and verifying target briefings. In particular, they did not conduct pre-mission pilot reporting and review of the live armament plan.

To address this, the Air Force will add to existing procedures: ▲ a process for mutual verification of target coordinates among the formation before entering the final attack phase, and ▲ assignment of a dedicated live armament controller at the Master Control and Reporting Center (MCRC) to verify the mission formation and target coordinates, thereby reinforcing the double-checking procedures.

The responsibility of commanders will also be strengthened. For major live armament missions, flight plans and mission results must be reported "face-to-face" to the unit commander, and the squadron commander (flight commander) will directly participate in briefings to check mission readiness and execution capability.

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During the briefing, several issues were pointed out regarding the delayed assessment and reporting of the accidental bombing incident. The Air Force Operations Command recognized the abnormal situation at 10:07, when the pilot confirmed the coordinate entry error after the firing. However, despite recognizing it was an accidental bombing, they focused solely on verifying whether the round that caused civilian damage was indeed a bomb dropped from the fighter jet. As a result, the accidental bombing was reported to the Air Force Operations Commander only at 10:21, 14 minutes after the situation was recognized.

Regarding the reason the media was notified nearly 90 minutes after the accidental bombing occurred, the Air Force stated, "We believed that confirming the facts accurately was the priority, so we waited until we finally confirmed the MK-82 bomb fragments before making an announcement," but added, "However, considering the seriousness of the situation, it would have been more appropriate to notify immediately upon occurrence of the abnormal drop."

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The Air Force stated, "Those identified as negligent in situation assessment and reporting will be disciplined according to laws and regulations," and added, "We will also implement follow-up measures such as strengthening the real-time reporting system."

The Air Force will gradually resume flight training linked to the 2025 Freedom Shield (FS) exercise starting today. However, live-fire exercises will only resume after recurrence prevention measures are established and implemented.

Yonhap News

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Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Youngsoo stated regarding the KF-16 accidental bombing incident, "I sincerely apologize for undermining the peaceful daily lives of the people, causing injuries, and inflicting property damage due to this unprecedented accidental bombing incident."

At the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Lee said, "We will deeply reflect on our shortcomings and, with a determination akin to cutting bones, correct wrongful practices to ensure such incidents never occur again."

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Lee added, "I also extend my deepest apologies and condolences to the residents of Nogok-ri and service members who were injured, and I wish a swift recovery to those still hospitalized."

He continued, "This was an accident that should never have happened and must never happen again," and reiterated, "Once again, I apologize to all those affected by this accidental bombing incident."

Lee further stated, "We will do our utmost in every aspect, including prompt damage restoration, medical and psychological support, and compensation, so that residents can quickly return to their daily lives."