Fighter Jets Accidentally Drop Bombs in South Korean Civilian District, Injuring 15

South Korea's air force said that its KF-16 fighter jet accidentally dropped eight bombs outside of its firing range during a military drill

Fifteen people were injured, two of them seriously, after two South Korean fighter jets mistakenly dropped eight bombs in a civilian area during a live-fire military exercise on Thursday.

The incident occurred in Pocheon, near the North Korean border, as part of routine military drills aimed at maintaining combat readiness. The South Korean Air Force has launched an investigation and issued an apology, stating that compensation will be provided to those affected.

Live-fire exercises occasionally result in shells landing near civilian areas, but injuries are rare. According to reports, two individuals sustained fractures to their necks and shoulders, while a 60-year-old driver suffered shrapnel wounds after an explosion struck near their vehicle.

"I was driving when I heard a 'bang'. When I woke up, I was in an ambulance," the injured individual recounted.

The Air Force confirmed that a KF-16 fighter jet inadvertently dropped eight MK-82 bombs outside the designated firing range due to an input error by the pilot. Investigators are still determining why the second jet also dropped its bombs. In response, all live-fire exercises have been suspended.

The explosions caused damage to residential buildings and a church. Images from the site show shattered windows and a damaged roof. A resident described the explosion as sounding "like a thunderclap" that shook their home.

At a nearby senior citizen care center, windows were shattered, and one staff member was hospitalized with injuries. While no elderly residents were hurt, they were reportedly so frightened that they were sent home as a precaution.

Authorities initially evacuated residents while a bomb disposal team inspected the area, but no unexploded ordnance was found.

The South Korean defense ministry confirmed that the training exercise was linked to upcoming joint drills with the United States, scheduled from March 10 to March 20. These exercises come amid growing concerns over North Korea's strengthening ties with Russia.

A similar incident occurred in 2022 during a joint US-South Korea drill when a short-range ballistic missile malfunctioned and crashed on a military base golf course. Although the warhead did not detonate, the crash sparked panic among local residents.