Seven Injured After South Korean Fighter Jet Accidentally Drops Bombs in Civilian Area

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Seven people were injured, four seriously, when a South Korean fighter jet accidentally dropped eight bombs in a civilian district during a live-fire military exercise. The incident occurred around 10:04 AM local time (01:04 GMT) in Pocheon, a city located near the border with North Korea.

The bombs were dropped by a South Korean Air Force KF-16 fighter jet conducting a live-fire drill. Authorities have confirmed that only one of the bombs detonated, while the remaining seven were still unexploded at the time of reporting. A bomb disposal team has been deployed to safely handle and dispose of the unexploded ordnance. Residents living near the blast site were evacuated to ensure their safety.

Among the seven injured, two people suffered fractures to their necks and shoulders, while a 60-year-old driver was struck by shrapnel, injuring their neck. Local media outlet Yonhap reported that the driver was driving at the time of the explosion and was unaware of the danger until they regained consciousness in an ambulance. “I was driving when I heard a ‘bang’. When I woke up, I was in an ambulance,” the injured individual recounted.

The South Korean Air Force confirmed the accidental drop of eight MK-82 bombs, which landed outside the designated firing range. The Air Force has initiated an investigation into the incident and expressed regret, offering to compensate the victims.

The explosion caused significant damage, including the destruction of a church roof and broken windows in nearby buildings. A local resident described the sound of the explosion as "like a thunderclap" as it shook their house. The director of a nearby senior citizens’ care facility also reported shattered windows, though no seniors were injured. The facility was evacuated out of caution after one teacher was injured and taken to the hospital.

The training exercise was part of a joint military drill with US forces. South Korea and the United States are scheduled to hold combined drills from March 10 to March 20, marking their first joint exercise since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House. The drills come at a time of growing concerns over the strengthening alliance between North Korea and Russia, further heightening tensions in the region.

This incident echoes a similar mishap in 2022, when South Korean and US troops accidentally fired a short-range ballistic missile that malfunctioned and crashed on a golf course near a military base. While the missile’s warhead did not explode, it sparked panic in the surrounding area after it burst into flames.

As investigations continue into Thursday's bombing incident, South Korea’s defense ministry has pledged to review the safety protocols surrounding military drills to prevent similar accidents in the future.