A mid-air collision between two South Korean fighter jets in 2021 was caused by pilots taking photos and videos during a flight, according to a report by the Board of Audit and Inspection of Seoul.
The incident involved two F-15K jets operating near the central city of Daegu. Both pilots survived without injuries, but the aircraft sustained damage, costing 880 million won ($596,000) in repairs.
The report said one pilot, who has since left the military, had intended to take photos to mark his final flight with his unit, a practice described as common among pilots at the time.
While returning to base, the pilot used his personal mobile phone to take pictures. Another pilot then attempted to film the manoeuvre, prompting the wingman aircraft to climb and adjust position for better visibility.
The manoeuvre brought the two jets dangerously close. Although the lead aircraft attempted to descend to avoid impact, the aircraft collided, damaging one jet’s wing and the other’s tail section.
The South Korean Air Force initially sought to recover the full repair cost from the pilot responsible. However, following an appeal, the audit board ruled that he should pay only a tenth of the amount, a fine of 88 million won, citing shared responsibility.
The board said the Air Force also bore some responsibility for failing to regulate personal use of cameras during flights. (Newswire)