South Korean Pilot's Mid-Air Selfie Caused Fighter Jet Collision; Air Force Apologizes
The South Korean Air Force apologized for a 2021 mid-air collision between two F-15K fighter jets. An investigation revealed that the accident was caused by a pilot performing unauthorized maneuvers to take a selfie video.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 15:25
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 15:32 (6 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 15:55 (23 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA, Seoul, 23rd, Comprehensive Foreign Dispatch) The South Korean Air Force apologized today for a mid-air collision incident involving two fighter jets in 2021. The previous day, South Korea's Board of Audit and Inspection pointed out that the pilots took selfies and recorded videos during the flight, concluding that they were responsible for the accident.
According to Reuters, an Air Force spokesperson stated at a press conference: "We sincerely apologize to the public for the concerns raised by the accident in 2021." The spokesperson added that one of the pilots involved has been grounded, faced severe disciplinary action, and has now left the military.
South Korea's Board of Audit and Inspection released a report yesterday stating that during a formation flight near Daegu in December 2021, an unplanned maneuver conducted for personal photography caused two F-15K fighter jets to collide.
Inspectors noted that a wingman pilot, attempting to record footage to commemorate his final flight with the unit, made the fighter jet sharply climb and bank to improve the camera angle without authorization, while another pilot recorded a video from the lead aircraft.
As the aircraft approached each other, both crews attempted evasive maneuvers, but the wingman's tail section struck the lead aircraft's wing, causing approximately 880 million KRW (about 18.75 million NTD) in damages. Fortunately, no one was injured.
The Board of Audit and Inspection determined that the wingman pilot bore primary responsibility, but also criticized the Air Force's loose regulations regarding in-flight photography at the time, ordering the involved pilot to compensate for about 1/10th of the repair costs.
The South Korean Air Force stated that it is taking measures to strengthen flight safety regulations to prevent similar incidents from recurring. (Translation: Li Pei-shan) 1150423
(CNA, Seoul, 23rd, Comprehensive Foreign Dispatch) The South Korean Air Force apologized today for a mid-air collision incident involving two fighter jets in 2021. The previous day, South Korea's Board of Audit and Inspection pointed out that the pilots took selfies and recorded videos during the flight, concluding that they were responsible for the accident.
According to Reuters, an Air Force spokesperson stated at a press conference: "We sincerely apologize to the public for the concerns raised by the accident in 2021." The spokesperson added that one of the pilots involved has been grounded, faced severe disciplinary action, and has now left the military.
South Korea's Board of Audit and Inspection released a report yesterday stating that during a formation flight near Daegu in December 2021, an unplanned maneuver conducted for personal photography caused two F-15K fighter jets to collide.
Inspectors noted that a wingman pilot, attempting to record footage to commemorate his final flight with the unit, made the fighter jet sharply climb and bank to improve the camera angle without authorization, while another pilot recorded a video from the lead aircraft.
As the aircraft approached each other, both crews attempted evasive maneuvers, but the wingman's tail section struck the lead aircraft's wing, causing approximately 880 million KRW (about 18.75 million NTD) in damages. Fortunately, no one was injured.
The Board of Audit and Inspection determined that the wingman pilot bore primary responsibility, but also criticized the Air Force's loose regulations regarding in-flight photography at the time, ordering the involved pilot to compensate for about 1/10th of the repair costs.
The South Korean Air Force stated that it is taking measures to strengthen flight safety regulations to prevent similar incidents from recurring. (Translation: Li Pei-shan) 1150423