A five-year-old incident involving a mid-air collision of two South Korean F-15 fighter jets has been attributed to pilots taking photos and videos with their phones during a flight mission. The incident, which occurred over Daegu, resulted in approximately £440,500 in repair costs, despite both pilots escaping unharmed.

Details of the Crash

The collision wasn’t an isolated event, but rather a result of a widespread and unregulated practice within the South Korean air force. The wingman pilot, on his final flight with the unit, had expressed a desire to take photos as a memento, a request openly discussed during a pre-flight briefing.

Risky Maneuvers and the Collision

During the return flight, the pilot began taking pictures with his mobile phone. This prompted the lead pilot to request a fellow airman to record a video of the wingman’s jet. In an attempt to capture a better shot, the wingman pilot performed a risky maneuver, ascending and flipping his aircraft.

This maneuver brought the two F-15K jets dangerously close together. The lead pilot initiated a rapid descent to avoid a collision, but the aircraft still collided, damaging the left wing of the lead jet and the tail stabilizer of the wingman’s aircraft.

Investigation and Findings

The initial response from the air force was to seek £400,000 from the wingman pilot for repair costs. However, this demand was appealed, leading to an investigation by Seoul’s Audit and Inspection Board.

The audit board found that while the wingman pilot was responsible for the maneuver that directly caused the crash, the lead pilot’s consent to the risky filming request was also a contributing factor. The board also highlighted the air force’s lack of clear regulations regarding the use of cameras and phones during flight operations.

Reduced Penalty and Future Prevention

As a result, the financial penalty imposed on the wingman pilot was significantly reduced, with the air force agreeing to share some of the financial burden. The board emphasized the need for proactive steps to prevent similar incidents in the future, noting the wingman pilot’s previously unblemished service record.

The report raises concerns about the safety culture within the South Korean air force and the potential for distractions to compromise flight safety. It is currently unclear if any disciplinary action was taken against the lead pilot or the airman who filmed the video.