On April 22, South Korean media including Yonhap and Chosun Ilbo reported that an audit report made public by the South Korean audit and Supervision Agency on the same day revealed that, a fighter pilot has been ordered to pay about 87 million won (1,000 won) in compensation for a collision caused by a rogue photo taken during a mission. The accident was hidden by the South Korean military for more than 4 years, until the audit results were released before the public exposure, causing South Korean public opinion on the military transparency and flight safety management questions.
According to the Korea Audit and Inspection Agency, the pilot requested a commemorative photo during his final flight before his transfer in December 2021. On the way back, another fighter pilot in the formation filmed it with his mobile phone at a speed of 578 km per hour. In pursuit of better results, the pilot reversed the plane to get close to another plane. In the process, his plane’s left horizontal tail wing collided with another plane’s wing, causing damage to both planes.
Although the accident caused no casualties, but the two aircraft are required to replace many parts, maintenance costs about 870 million won. South Korea’s defense ministry found the pilot guilty of gross negligence and demanded full compensation and suspension.
The pilot demurred. After verification, the audit and Supervision Institute found that the relevant units were also responsible for lax supervision, and that the pilot had successfully commanded the return of the fighter aircraft in an emergency situation and had made a certain contribution to long-term service, the amount of compensation was eventually reduced to about 87 million won, or 10 percent of the total maintenance cost.
According to reports, the pilot in 2010 enlisted in the military, after receiving disciplinary action has been retired and turned to civil aviation pilots. The incident had not been made public since 2021 and was not disclosed in the audit report until the pilot applied for a review. At present, the South Korean military and audit institutions to“Involve national security” on the grounds that no specific forces and aircraft, but South Korean media quoted sources as saying that the model involved F-15K.