Two Fighter Jets Collide Mid-Air After Pilot Selfie, Air Force Apologises

The South Korean Air Force has finally spoken out regarding the mid-air collision of two fighter jets in 2021. The incident has now been revealed to have been triggered by the undisciplined actions of a pilot taking selfies and recording videos during flight.

In an official statement, an Air Force spokesperson apologised to the public for the incident. “We sincerely apologise to the public for the concern caused by the accident that occurred in 2021,” they stated during a press conference, as reported by The Guardian.

The apology follows the release of the latest investigation findings by the South Korean Audit and Inspection Board. The report identified unplanned manoeuvres performed for personal photography as the primary cause of the collision between the two F-15K jets during formation training near Daegu in December 2021.

According to the chronology, one of the wingman pilots attempted to capture the moment of his final flight with the unit by recording images. He performed sharp manoeuvres, including climbing and banking the aircraft without authorisation, to achieve a better camera angle. Meanwhile, the other pilot was also recording video from the lead aircraft.

As the distance between the two jets closed, both crews attempted to avoid the collision. However, the tail of the wingman aircraft struck the wing of the lead jet, causing significant damage.

Total losses from the incident reached approximately US$600,000. Fortunately, there were no casualties in the event.

The audit board concluded that the wingman pilot bears the primary responsibility. Nevertheless, authorities also highlighted the weakness in Air Force supervision regarding filming activities during flights at that time.

As a consequence, the pilot has faced severe sanctions, including being suspended from flight duties and being required to reimburse approximately one-tenth of the total repair costs.