Latest news with #CriminalInvestigationCommand
Russia Today
15-03-2025
- Russia Today
South Korea blames pilots for bombing village
South Korean military investigators have charged two Air Force pilots with criminal negligence following the bombing of a village near the border with the North which resulted in at least 29 civilian injuries and significant property damage. The incident occurred on March 6, when two KF-16 fighter jets mistakenly released eight MK-82 bombs over the settlement of Nogok-ri, Pocheon, near the North Korean border, during a live-fire exercise. 'The Criminal Investigation Command has confirmed in the probe to date that the pilots' erroneous entry of target coordinates was the direct cause of the accident,' the defense ministry said on Thursday, according to Yonhap News Agency. The charged pilots have been relieved from flight duties, and their flight certifications are under review. The bombing injured at least 29 people, including 15 civilians, with two individuals sustaining serious injuries. The explosions, which occurred outside the designated firing range, caused extensive damage to civilian structures, including five houses, a church, a warehouse, and a greenhouse. Footage of a bomb falling on the village of Nogok in South data, 15 people, including two soldiers, were injured as a result of a mistaken bomb drop by a fighter jet of the national air force. Before this, a bomb was dropped by mistake back in 2004. In response to the incident, the South Korean Air Force has suspended all live-fire exercises and grounded training flights pending a thorough investigation. The Air Force Chief of Staff has apologized and pledged to review mission procedures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. 💥 🔗↙️ MILITARY FAILURE South Korea's & U.S military drills accidentally dropped 8️⃣ #MK82 bombs on a residential in #Pocheon a live-fire exercise, 15 injured & causing significant damage .. United States Forces Korea (USFK) said that no US Air Force aircraft were involved in the botched live-fire exercise. However, the mishap has raised concerns among local residents about the safety of such drills near civilian areas. Pocheon and neighboring regions host training grounds used by the militaries of both South Korea and the US. North Korea has criticized the joint drills, stating that such accidents highlight the risk of these exercises escalating into armed conflict, particularly if ordnance were to inadvertently cross into North Korean territory. 'There is no need to explain how the situation would have developed if a bomb had been dropped towards the north a little further to cross the border of the DPRK,' North Korea's state news agency KCNA said in a commentary on Wednesday. 'It is not unreasonable to imagine that an accidental spark might plunge the Korean Peninsula, the region, and the rest of the world into a new armed conflict.' The incident occurred ahead of the annual Freedom Shield exercises, a major joint military drill between South Korea and the United States, which commenced on March 10 and will finish on March 20. While live-fire drills have been suspended, the command post exercises have proceeded as planned. On Wednesday, they simulated an assault on a North Korean facility suspected of storing an unidentified weapon of mass destruction (WMD).
NBC News
13-03-2025
- NBC News
South Korea charges air force pilots with criminal negligence in accidental bombing of village
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean military investigators charged two Air Force pilots on Thursday with criminal negligence over an accidental bombing of a village last week during a training exercise, which injured at least 29 people and caused extensive property damage. Defense ministry investigators have confirmed that errors by the pilots when they entered coordinates into the aircraft systems were 'direct factors' behind the accidental bombing, the ministry's Criminal Investigation Command said in a statement. The pilots were charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm, the command said, adding that the investigation of the incident is ongoing. Eight unguided air-to-surface bombs were launched from two fighter jets and landed on a village in Pocheon near the border with North Korea during live-fire exercises. Several areas in Pocheon and neighboring regions have training grounds used by the South Korean and U.S. militaries. Residents have for years complained about potential safety risks and disturbance from military units being mobilized in the area. The two pilots have been taken off flight duties and a review of their flight mission certification has been scheduled, a ministry official said. The Air Force chief of staff has apologized for the accident and pledged to review mission procedures to prevent similar incidents. North Korea, which routinely denounces military drills by the South Korean and U.S. militaries, has said the accident showed the risk of the drills triggering armed conflict, citing the possibility the bombs could have dropped north of the border.
CBC
13-03-2025
- CBC
South Korean air force pilots charged with criminal negligence in accidental bombing of village
Social Sharing South Korean military investigators charged two Air Force pilots on Thursday with criminal negligence over an accidental bombing of a village last week during a training exercise, which injured at least 29 people and caused extensive property damage. Defence ministry investigators have confirmed that errors by the pilots when they entered coordinates into the aircraft systems were "direct factors" behind the accidental bombing, the ministry's Criminal Investigation Command said in a statement. Explosion rocks South Korean neighbourhood after jets mistakenly drop bombs 7 days ago Duration 0:07 A social media video verified by Reuters, which matched the scene to existing satellite images and comparing the setting to its own image of the aftermath, shows an explosion after an air force jet mistakenly dropped bombs in Pocheon, home to about 160,000 residents, injuring at least 15 people. The pilots were charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm, the command said, adding the investigation of the incident is ongoing. Eight unguided air-to-surface bombs were launched from two fighter jets and landed on a village in Pocheon near the border with North Korea during live-fire exercises. Several areas in Pocheon and neighbouring regions have training grounds used by the South Korean and U.S. militaries. Residents have for years complained about potential safety risks and disturbance from military units being mobilized in the area. The two pilots have been taken off flight duties and a review of their flight mission certification has been scheduled, a ministry official said. The Air Force chief of staff has apologized for the accident and pledged to review mission procedures to prevent similar incidents. North Korea, which routinely denounces military drills by the South Korean and U.S. militaries, has said the accident showed the risk of the drills triggering armed conflict, citing the possibility the bombs could have dropped north of the border.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
South Korea charges two pilots over accidental bombing
STORY: South Korean military investigators on Thursday charged two Air Force pilots with criminal negligence causing bodily harm for accidentally bombing a village during a training exercise. The incident injured at least 29 people and caused extensive property damage. The defence ministry's Criminal Investigation Command said the pilots' errors in entering coordinates were 'direct factors' behind the accidental bombing. Eight unguided bombs from two fighter jets hit a village in Pocheon during live-fire exercises. The area features training grounds used by the South Korean and U.S. militaries. A ministry official said the two pilots have been removed from flight duties, and a review of their certification is scheduled. The Air Force chief of staff apologized last week and pledged to review procedures to prevent future incidents. North Korea, which often criticizes South Korean and U.S. military drills, said the accident highlighted the risk of conflict, noting the bombs could have dropped north of the border. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Korea Herald
13-03-2025
- Korea Herald
Two Air Force pilots booked over Pocheon bombing
Two South Korean Air Force jet pilots were booked Thursday, charged with causing injury due to occupational negligence, following their accidental bombing of a civilian village last week, the Defense Ministry said. The Defense Ministry recently confirmed pilot error as the main cause of the accident on March 6, in which two KF-16 fighter jets dropped eight MK-82 bombs on a village in Pocheon, located near the inter-Korean border. The pilots failed to drop the bombs on the training range, which was located in the border city some 40 kilometers north of Seoul, during a live-fire drill after entering incorrect coordinates. The accident injured 38 people, including 24 civilians. "The Criminal Investigation Command under the Ministry of Defense has found and confirmed in the ongoing investigation to date that the pilots' erroneous entry of target coordinates was the direct cause of the accident," the ministry said in a notice to reporters. 'This is why, as of March 13, the two pilots were booked on charges including causing injury due to occupational negligence,' it added. The ministry vowed to continue its in-depth investigation into the matter. If found guilty, the pilots could face a maximum prison sentence of five years or a fine of up to 20 million won ($13,700) for breaching Article 268 of the Criminal Act, which is causing injury by occupational negligence. The announcement comes two days after the Air Force dismissed two unit commanders — a colonel and a lieutenant colonel — who were responsible for overseeing safety protocols in the drill.
