Fifteen people were injured, including two who were seriously wounded after fighter jets bombed homes accidentally during a live-fire drill with US forces, Seoul’s military said on Thursday. According to Reuters, the bombs that were dropped by the jets landed in a civilian district.
It damaged houses and a church in Pocheon, about 40 kilometres from Seoul, the Air Force and the fire agency said. Two KF-16 fighter jets “abnormally dropped” eight MK-82 general purpose bombs in the area and landed outside the designated firing range at approximately 10:07 am local time, as per a CNN report. South Korea’s Air Force said eight 225 kg bombs from two fell outside the shooting range during joint live-fire exercises.
🚨🇰🇷🇺🇸 Un avión de combate surcoreano lanzó por error 8 bombas fuera del campo de entrenamiento, impactando objetivos civiles en la ciudad de Pocheon, a 40 km de Seúl. El incidente dejó 15 heridos y ocurrió durante ejercicios militares con @USArmy usando munición real. pic.twitter.com/aqPYI85uhw
— LAI (@laiOSINT) March 6, 2025
The National Fire Agency told CNN that there were no reports of cardiac arrest or unconsciousness.
Local media outlets showed the aftermath of the explosions and thick smoke billowing into the air in a rural area. “The scene of the incident is chaotic, resembling a battlefield,” Pocheon Mayor Baek Young-hyun said in a televised statement, as reported by CNN.
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Further, the Air Force, in a statement, apologised for the damage by the accidental drop and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The accident occurred due to a pilot entering incorrect coordinates, according to a military official. The official stated that both jets subsequently dropped four bombs each, all of which detonated, reported Reuters. However, the Army hasn’t ruled out accidents.
All live-fire training will be suspended from Thursday until the investigation into the incident is completed. An accident response team has been formed to conduct the probe, and the air force has pledged to compensate for damages.
The Freedom Shield drills were set to take place from March 10 to March 20 to enhance the combined defence posture of the US-South Korean alliance, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff stated reported Reuters.
