WEB DESK: South Korean’s fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs in the wrong place during a training exercise, resulting in civilian injuries.
On Thursday, a military training exercise in Pocheon, South Korea, resulted in the injury of eight individuals when bombs released by an Air Force jet fell in a residential area, causing damage to homes and a church, according to officials from the air force and the fire department.
“On Thursday, the Air Force reported that an unusual incident occurred involving the release of eight MK-82 general-purpose bombs from a KF-16 aircraft, which fell outside the authorized firing range.”
The incident occurred about 10am (01:00 GMT) in Pocheon, about 25km (16 miles) south of the heavily fortified border with nuclear-armed North Korea.
“We deeply regret the unintended release of the bombs, which resulted in civilian casualties, and wish those injured a swift recovery,” the air force said in a statement.
It said it had established an accident response committee to investigate the incident and said it would “take all necessary measures, including compensation for damages”.
The air force said the military jet had been “participating in a joint live-fire exercise involving both the Air Force and Army”.
South Korea was holding combined live-fire drills with the United States on Thursday in Pocheon, state-funded Yonhap News Agency reported.
