The air force said it would open an investigation into the cause of the crash and the extent of the damage

 

South Korean fighter jets accidentally drop bombs during training exercise, injuring multiple people

South Korean warplanes mistakenly dropped bombs on a residential area while conducting a live-fire drill with the United States on Thursday, injuring several individuals and destroying several buildings, including three homes and a Catholic church.

The MK-82 bombs "abnormally" ejected by the KF-16 fighter aircraft fell beyond a firing range, resulting in unspecified civilian damages, the air force stated in a report.

PASSENGER PLANE ENGLUFS IN FLAMES AT S. KOREAN AIRPORT; ALL 176 ON PLANE EVACUATED 

A South Korea army's Apache Guardian helicopter fires rockets during the joint military drill between South Korea and the United States at Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, South Korea, Thursday, March 6, 2025.  (Yonhap via AP)

Reports of the number of people injured varied, but South Korea’s Yonhap news agency put the number at 15, including civilians and soldiers. Two of the injured were serious but not life-threatening, the outlet reported. At least seven buildings were damaged.

South Korean Air Force F-15K fighter jets fly during the joint military drill between South Korea and the United States at Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, South Korea, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Yonhap via AP

The air force explained that the fighter jets were participating in the air force's joint live-firing exercises with the army. It apologized for the incident and vowed to set up a committee to probe the accident's cause and the damage.

AT LEAST FOUR DEAD IN SOUTH KOREA HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT COLLAPSThe air force explained that the fighter jets were participating in the air force's joint live-firing exercises with the army. It apologized for the incident and vowed to set up a committee to probe the accident's cause and the damage.

AT LEAST FOUR DEAD IN SOUTH KOREA HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT COLLAPS

South Korean Air Force F-35A fighter jets fire flare shells during the joint military drill between South Korea and the United States at Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, South Korea, Thursday, March 6, 2025.  (Yonhap via AP)

South Korean media have said the accidents occurred in Pocheon, a city close to the heavily fortified border with North Korea. At a televised news briefing, Pocheon Mayor Paek Young-hyun described the bombings as "awful" and asked the military to stop exercises in the city until it comes up with dependable measures that can avoid recurrence. He noted that Pocheon, a 140,000-inhabitant city, hosts three large firing ranges for South Korea and U.S. forces.

The military afterwards announced that it has made a decision to postpone all live-fire exercises throughout South Korea. Analysts say the military will resume live-fire exercises once they discover the precise cause of Thursday's accident and outlines measures to avert future occurrences.

Three houses, a Catholic church and a greenhouse were lightly damaged but they didn't seem to have been bombed directly, the Pocheon department said.