S. Korean KF-16 fighter jet damaged during drills in Alaska
A South Korean KF-16 fighter jet taking part in combined air drills with the United States in Alaska has been damaged, the Air Force said.
Two pilots ejected themselves from the double-seat fighter after an emergency situation occurred at 9:02 a.m. during the Red Flag Alaska drills, according to the Air Force.
The Air Force plans to determine the exact cause of the incident. (Yonhap)
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Korea Herald
5 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Pilot error suspected in KF-16 Alaska accident: Air Force
Pilot error appears to have been behind a KF-16 fighter jet accident that occurred during air drills in Alaska earlier this week, as the pilots mistakenly tried to take off from the taxiway rather than the runway, the Air Force said Thursday. On Tuesday, the two pilots ejected from the twin-seat fighter after an emergency situation occurred during takeoff from Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska, as they attended the US-led multinational Red Flag air exercise. They did not suffer major injuries, but the jet was partially damaged due to a fire. Citing a preliminary probe result, the Air Force said three KF-16s wrongly entered the taxiway instead of the runway as they prepared to take off to participate in air combat drills. All four pilots of the three aircraft told investigators that they mistook the taxiway for the runway. "The US Air Force air traffic control tower instructed the second aircraft to cancel takeoff upon seeing the first aircraft taking off from the taxiway, but the distance was insufficient ... prompting an emergency ejection," an Air Force official said. The aircraft caught fire as it skidded to a stop in the grass near the end of the taxiway, according to the official. The two pilots of the second aircraft appear to have ejected from the aircraft due to the fire, the official said, noting that the exact sequence of the events is currently under investigation. The exact cause of the fire currently remains unclear. As the accident did not occur due to a mechanical issue, the Air Force said it will resume training and operations of the KF-16. "The Air Force has decided to continue to participate in the Red Flag exercise. Operation of the (KF-16) aircraft will resume Friday," the official said, apologizing over the accident and vowing to come up with "effective" measures to prevent a similar accident. The four pilots, however, will no longer take part in the exercise and will cooperate with the investigation, according to the official. The Air Force earlier grounded all KF-16 fighter jets and dispatched a 20-member team to Alaska to probe the accident and carry out emergency maintenance, amid efforts to determine the exact cause of the accident under close cooperation with the US side. South Korea mobilized 11 aircraft, including six KF-16 fighters and the KC-330 transport plane, and some 100 airmen for this year's Red Flag air exercise that runs through June 27. Launched in 1975, the Red Flag-Alaska exercise is designed to provide realistic training in a simulated combat environment, according to the US military. South Korea has deployed fighter jets to the exercise since 2013. This week's accident took place about three months after two South Korean KF-16 fighter jets mistakenly bombed a town just south of the inter-Korean border, injuring 66 people, including 40 civilians. The aircraft released live bombs outside of a designated training area as the pilots wrongly entered the target coordinates, according to the Air Force.
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
KF-16 damaged in Alaska, no casualties reported
A South Korean KF-16 fighter jet was damaged during a multinational air combat drill in the United States, the South Korean Air Force said Wednesday. According to the military, the incident occurred around 4 p.m. during takeoff at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska. A fire broke out in the aircraft, causing partial damage, and an emergency ejection was carried out. The flight was part of the Red Flag-Alaska exercise hosted by the United States Pacific Air Forces. The KF-16, a twin-seat fighter, was carrying two pilots, both holding the rank of captain. They safely ejected and were transported to a nearby hospital. The military said both sustained only minor burns and they are in stable condition. The extent of the damage to the aircraft has not been disclosed. The South Korean Air Force said it is working closely with its US counterpart to determine the cause of the incident and assess the situation. South Korea has deployed 11 aircraft for the Red Flag exercise, including KF-16 fighters and KC-330 multirole tanker transports, along with around 100 personnel. The participants began terrain orientation and acclimation flights earlier Monday, with the main training set to run for about two weeks starting next Monday. They are scheduled to return to South Korea on July 1.
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
S. Korean KF-16 damaged in Alaska drill; no serious injuries reported
A South Korean KF-16 fighter jet was damaged during a multinational air combat drill in the United States, the South Korean Air Force said Wednesday. According to the military, an emergency ejection occurred during takeoff at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska, as part of the Red Flag-Alaska exercise hosted by the United States Pacific Air Forces. The KF-16, a twin-seat fighter, was carrying two pilots at the time. Both safely ejected and were transported to a nearby hospital. The extent of the damage to the aircraft has not been disclosed. The South Korean Air Force said it is working closely with its US counterpart to determine the cause of the incident and assess the situation. South Korea has deployed 11 aircraft for the Red Flag exercise, including KF-16 fighters and KC-330 multirole tanker transports, along with around 100 personnel. The participants began terrain orientation and acclimation flights earlier Monday, with the main training set to run for about two weeks starting next Monday. They are scheduled to return to South Korea on July 1.
