Criminal Negligence Charges Filed After Misguided Bombing During Training Exercise Injures Dozens
Two South Korean Air Force pilots have been charged with criminal negligence following an accidental bombing of a village during a training exercise, which left at least 29 people injured and caused severe property damage. The incident, which occurred on March 6, 2025, near Pocheon, close to the North Korean border, involved the release of eight unguided air-to-surface bombs from two fighter jets.
According to the South Korean Defence Ministry, the pilots’ failure to accurately input coordinates into the aircraft systems directly led to the bombing. As a result, they have been charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.
The bombs landed in civilian areas of Pocheon and its neighbouring regions, which also house training grounds used by both South Korean and United States forces. Residents of these areas have long expressed concerns over safety risks associated with military activities nearby.
In response to the incident, the two pilots have been grounded, and a review of their flight mission certifications is underway. The South Korean Air Force chief of staff has issued an apology, assuring the public that the military will review mission protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The incident has raised alarms in North Korea, which has long criticised joint military drills between South Korea and the US. North Korean officials highlighted the risk of such drills inadvertently escalating tensions, particularly the possibility of bombs landing on their side of the border.
