South Korean Air Force Dismisses Two Commanders After Mistakenly Bombing A Civilian Village
According to reports, the South Korean Air Force has dismissed two officers after a horrifying incident in which the air force mistakenly bombed a South Korean village, damaging civilian homes and injuring scores of innocent people.
The Air Force determined that the two officers, a colonel and a lieutenant colonel, failed to fulfill their legal duties by neglecting safety protocol and oversight. Their actions were deemed a “serious violation of duty” caused by a lack of supervision and proper command management.
The incident occurred on March 6, at around 10 am KST, when two South Korean fighter jets dropped a total of eight 500-pound Mark 82 bombs in a civilian-dense area of Pocheon, a village near the heavily militarized DMZ. It happened during a joint military drill between South Korea and the United States. According to the latest reports, 29 civilians were injured, while the area saw significant property damage. Four of the victims were said to be in serious condition.
According to an initial investigation, the first pilot entered incorrect coordinates and skipped a verification step due to a printing error. He also allegedly falsely stated that he had visually confirmed the target location. Despite using the proper coordinates, the second pilot followed the first pilot as per the format of the simultaneous attack drill.
🚨New video shows bombs striking South Korean town near DMZ
The South Korean Air Force says 8 MK-82 bombs were mistakenly dropped by a jet during a war drill with the US.
The MK-82 is a US-manufactured 500 lbs bomb.
15 people are reported injured. pic.twitter.com/txfESOlXUF
— Nodutdol | 노둣돌 (@nodutdol) March 6, 2025
The Air Force is reviewing these two pilots’ qualifications to assess whether they can continue flying jets. They have also suspended all live firing exercises until a full probe is completed.
On March 10, KST, Lee Young Su, the Air Force Chief of Staff, publicly apologized to South Korean citizens, accepting his failure to protect civilian lives and property. He promised to prevent such incidents in the future and reassured that the affected civilians would be compensated and provided with adequate support.
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