South Korean Fighter Jets Collide Mid-Air Due to Pilots Taking Photos

Two South Korean F-15K fighter jets collided mid-air in 2021 during a flight mission in Daegu because the pilots were taking pictures and videos.

The incident was confirmed by Seoul's Board of Audit and Inspection.

Both pilots survived without injuries, but the collision caused significant damage to the aircraft.

The collision damaged the lead aircraft's left wing and the wingman aircraft's tail stabiliser, resulting in repair costs of 880 million won.

One of the pilots, who has since left the military, was fined 88 million won for his role in the incident.

The audit board's report revealed that taking photos on flights was a widespread practice among pilots at the time.

The wingman pilot had declared his intent to take photos during a briefing before the flight, aiming to commemorate his last mission with his unit.

During the return flight, the wingman pilot used his personal mobile phone to take pictures.

The lead aircraft's pilot then asked another pilot to film a video of the wingman aircraft.

#SouthKorea #F15K #fighterjets #midaircollision #militaryaviation