KA-1 Airborne Control Attack Aircraft. Provided by the Air Force
Just over a month after a mishap with an Air Force KF-16 fighter jet that resulted in numerous injuries to civilians due to an accidental drop of fire in a residential area, another incident occurred involving a KA-1 airborne control and attack aircraft. During flight training, the aircraft accidentally dropped machine guns loaded with hundreds of live rounds and fuel tanks. Experts pointed out that had the dropped items fallen into a residential area, it could have once again led to significant casualties and property damage. Criticism is mounting as an Air Force investigation revealed that pilot error was once again the cause of the incident, highlighting a significant decline in the discipline within the Air Force.
● “Pilot pressed the wrong button”
According to the Air Force, on the night of the 18th, around 8:22 PM, a KA-1 aircraft engaged in a night shooting simulation training near Pyeongchang County, Gangwon Province, dropped two gun pods and two fuel tanks. The gun pods, which are cases that house machine guns, fell to the ground with a total of 500 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition. The fuel tanks were reportedly empty. The KA-1 reported the incident to the control tower immediately after and returned to the Wonju Air Force Base, and there were no emergency situations during the incident, according to the Air Force.
The Air Force deployed a helicopter and approximately 270 personnel the following day, the 19th, to the mountainous drop area in Yeongwol County, Gangwon Province, retrieving two gun pods and about 480 rounds of ammunition. On the 20th, they continued to deploy personnel and equipment to find the two fuel tanks and around ten rounds of ammunition that had not yet been retrieved.
The pilot involved in the incident reportedly testified to the Air Force Accident Investigation Committee, indicating that “the wrong button was pressed by mistake.” An Air Force official noted that the pilot, who was flying with night-vision goggles, testified about mistakenly pressing the drop button while hastily handling the surroundings of the air vent due to strong wind entering the cockpit.
The KA-1 is a converted light attack version of the KT-1 basic training aircraft, manned by two pilots. Both fighter jets and light attack aircraft have a button that jettisons external attachments like fuel tanks in emergency situations, and one of the KA-1 pilots inadvertently pressed this button.
The Air Force confirmed that there was no civilian damage as the gun pods and fuel tanks fell in a mountainous area. However, similar to the accident last month where a KF-16 fighter dropped a bomb on a residential area resulting in 30 injuries and damage to about 140 households, pilot error was again identified as the cause of the incident, raising concerns over eroding discipline within the force.
During the previous KF-16 incident, the pilot had mistakenly input the target coordinates during a live-fire training, which was identified as the direct cause of the mishap. A subsequent investigation revealed insufficient supervision and reporting within the command structure, as well as inadequate communication with the public.
● A vow to prevent future accidents becomes ’empty words’ in just a month
At the time, Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Young-soo stated in an interim accident investigation report that they would “correct bad practices with a bone-cutting resolution” and “focus all our efforts on subsequent measures and preventing recurrence.” However, with this latest incident, criticism arose that these promises were mere “empty words.”
On the 19th, the Air Force issued an apology stating, “We sincerely apologize for causing concern to the public once again.” Owing to the aftermath of the accident, they decided to suspend all flight operations of military aircraft, except for essential patrol and reconnaissance missions, until the morning of the 22nd. They also suspended flights as part of the joint South Korea-U.S. air exercise “Freedom Flag,” which was scheduled from the 17th to the 2nd of the following month, with plans to resume on the afternoon of the 22nd. “Freedom Flag” is a biannual exercise involving around 90 air assets from both the US and South Korean Air Forces.
An Air Force official stated, “We are educating units on accident examples, inspecting equipment safety, and holding a flight safety resolution meeting involving pilots and maintenance personnel.” Additionally, General Lee has called for a meeting with all flight unit commanders on the 21st.