Seven injured as South Korean fighter jet accidentally drops bombs

A South Korean military exercise turned into a dangerous accident when an Air Force KF-16 fighter jet mistakenly dropped eight bombs in a civilian district, injuring seven people, including four seriously. The incident occurred at approximately 10:04 AM local time (01:04 GMT) in Pocheon, a city located near the border with North Korea.

According to local authorities, only one of the bombs exploded, while the remaining seven remained unexploded. Bomb disposal teams were quickly dispatched to secure and safely dispose of the undetonated ordnance. As a precaution, residents in the vicinity were evacuated to ensure their safety.

Among the injured, two individuals suffered fractures to their necks and shoulders, while a 60-year-old driver was struck by shrapnel in the neck after the explosion caused their vehicle to crash. 

Additionally, the blast caused significant property damage, affecting residential buildings and a local church. Images circulating in South Korean media show shattered windows, debris-covered streets, and a damaged roof of the church. The director of a nearby senior care center described the chaotic scene, noting that the explosion shattered their facility’s windows and left one staff member injured. Fortunately, no elderly residents were harmed, though they were deeply shaken. “They were so frightened that we sent them all home,” the director said.

In an official statement, South Korea’s Air Force confirmed the incident, stating, “Our KF-16 jet fighter abnormally dropped eight shells of MK-82 bombs outside the designated firing range.” The military has launched an investigation into what caused the malfunction and assured the public that those affected would receive compensation for damages. The Air Force also issued an apology for the disruption and distress caused by the incident.

Live-fire exercises occasionally result in stray artillery shells landing near civilian areas, but injuries are rare. This incident has raised serious concerns about the military’s safety protocols and the risks of conducting such drills close to populated regions.

The South Korean Defense Ministry confirmed that the training exercise was part of a broader joint military drill with U.S. forces. The joint exercises, scheduled to run from March 10 to March 20, mark the first since the re-election of U.S. President Donald Trump. These drills come at a sensitive time, with South Korea and the U.S. closely monitoring the deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia.

This is not the first mishap involving joint military exercises. In 2022, another joint U.S.-South Korea drill resulted in a short-range ballistic missile malfunction, which sent the missile crashing onto a golf course inside a military base. While the missile’s warhead did not detonate, the explosion caused a fire and sent panic through nearby communities.

As South Korea and the U.S. prepare for another round of high-stakes military exercises, this latest incident in Pocheon is expected to fuel further debate over safety measures in live-fire training operations and their proximity to civilian areas. Military officials have pledged to conduct a thorough review to prevent similar accidents in the future.