Overview
- South Korea’s Board of Audit and Inspection published its findings Wednesday, holding a former air force major liable and ordering him to repay KRW 87,870,996, about 10% of the KRW 878.7 million repair bill.
- The audit says the December 24, 2021 two-ship flight over Daegu went wrong when the wingman climbed and rolled to be filmed, moving from 13,140 to 13,240 feet at 312 knots and banking to 137 degrees until a stabilator struck a wing.
- Investigators described personal photo-taking in flight as common at the time and faulted the military for not controlling personal cameras, which helped justify a 90% cut to the pilot’s financial liability.
- Both jets were damaged, requiring 45 parts on one aircraft and six on the other, yet both pilots landed safely without injuries.
- The defense ministry first sought full reimbursement in June 2023, the pilot appealed in October 2023, and local media reported the jets were F-15Ks from the 11th Fighter Wing as the wingman was later suspended and moved to an airline job.