It has been revealed that the mid-air collision of two F-15K fighter jets in South Korea in 2021 was caused by a pilot’s attempt to take photographs during the flight. The Seoul Board of Audit and Inspection report disclosed the details.
Photo taken during flight brought two fighter jets together mid-air
Details regarding the mid-air collision between two F-15K Slam Eagles in South Korea in 2021 have been clarified through a comprehensive review published by the Seoul Board of Audit and Inspection. It was recorded that the incident occurred over Daegu during a training flight.
Desire to take photos turned into a chain of errors
According to information included in the investigation file, the pilot in the wing position stated before the mission that this would be his final flight and wanted to capture the moment. Beginning to take images with a personal mobile phone during the flight became the first breaking point that increased operational distraction.
It was also noted between the lines of the report that similar practices were not entirely unfamiliar among pilots at the time.
The maneuver pushed the distance to an irreversible point
With a sudden change of direction made to capture images, the aircraft:
- Entered a rapid climb maneuver
- Adopted a flight angle close to an inverted position
- Approached the lead aircraft’s flight path in a way that disrupted formation discipline
This movement reduced the safe distance between the two aircraft below a critical level. Although the lead pilot’s avoidance reflex was triggered, the collision became inevitable.
Structural damage occurred, no casualties reported
Post-accident examinations showed:
- The left wing of the lead aircraft
- The tail stabilizer of the other aircraft sustained serious damage. Despite this, the pilots escaped the accident without injury, preventing the incident from turning into a more severe outcome.
The total material loss was announced to be approximately 596,000 dollars.
Disciplinary process and career change
Following the accident, the wing-position pilot was removed from duty and later left the military to transition into the civil aviation sector. At the end of the process, he was fined approximately 59,000 dollars.
Debate over institutional gap
The report reflected not only individual error but also an institutional deficiency. It was noted that the air force had not established a clear regulation regarding the use of personal cameras or mobile phones by pilots during flight.
