Two South Korean fighter jets collided in mid-air in 2021 because the pilots were taking photos and videos, according to a report by the Seoul Audit and Inspection Board, the BBC reported.
At the time of the incident, the two planes were flying a mission in the Daegu area. The pilots survived and walked away unharmed, but the collision damaged the fighter jets and required 880 million won ($596,000) in repairs.
The crash occurred because one of the pilots wanted to take photos to commemorate his last flight with his unit. Taking photos of important flights was "a common practice among pilots at the time," the investigation report said. The pilot stated his intention to take photos during a pre-flight briefing.
He was flying the fighter jet, following the lead plane during the mission. As they flew back to base, he began taking photos with his personal cell phone. The pilot of the lead fighter noticed this and asked another pilot in his plane to take a video. The person taking the photos abruptly raised the plane higher and turned it around so that he could get a better view. However, this maneuver brought the two fighters too close. To avoid a crash, the lead aircraft attempted to descend quickly. However, the two F-15Ks eventually collided, damaging the lead aircraft's left wing and tail stabilizer.
The person responsible for the incident has been dismissed from the South Korean Air Force (RAF). After leaving the military, he began working for a commercial airline. He was fined 880 million won to cover the full cost of repairs. After his side appealed, an investigation was conducted by the Audit Commission. The pilot admitted that his abrupt maneuver led to the collision, but claimed that the other pilot "tacitly agreed" to the maneuver for the sake of filming. In the end, he will have to pay only one-tenth of the amount.
The audit committee believes that the Air Force should bear some responsibility for the lack of control over the use of cameras by pilots for personal purposes. It also took into account that the pilot had a good record before the incident, and in this case managed to prevent greater damage by ensuring the safe return of his plane to base.