South Korea’s Air Force fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on its own citizens, leaving 15 injured in the incident. Several houses and a church were damaged. The incident took place during a military exercise in Pocheon. The fire department said two of the 15 injured were serious.
Pocheon is located about 40 kilometres northeast of Seoul.
According to Korean media reports, a KF-16 fighter jet mistakenly dropped at least 8 Mk-82 500lb bombs during a joint exercise with the U.S. Air Force. The bombs dropped on a street in the village of Nogok, city of Pocheon while damaging at least seven buildings, including a church.
The defense ministry had already announced that South Korea and the U.S. Air Force would hold their first joint live-fire exercises in Pocheon.
The South Korean Air Force said it has constituted a committee to probe the incident. It further added that the South Korean Air Force would pay for the damages incurred in the incident.
The Air Force said sorry for the incident and wished a speedy recovery of the injured people.