Seoul: South Korean military investigators have charged two Air Force pilots with criminal negligence following last week’s accidental bombing of a village during a training exercise. The incident injured at least 29 people and caused significant property damage.
According to the Defence Ministry's Criminal Investigation Command, the pilots mistakenly entered incorrect coordinates into their aircraft systems, which directly led to the bombing. As a result, they have been charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm. The investigation is still ongoing.
The accident occurred when two fighter jets launched eight unguided air-to-surface bombs, which unintentionally hit a village in Pocheon, near the North Korean border. The area is home to several military training grounds used by both South Korean and U.S. forces.
Local residents have long voiced concerns about the risks and disturbances caused by military exercises in the region.
Following the incident, the two pilots have been removed from flight duties, and their certification is under review. Meanwhile, the Air Force chief of staff has issued an apology and vowed to reassess operational procedures to prevent future accidents.
North Korea, which regularly criticizes joint military drills between South Korea and the U.S., seized on the incident to highlight the dangers of such exercises. It warned that the accidental bombing could have led to a cross-border conflict if the bombs had landed in North Korean territory.
