South Korea fighter jet accidentally drops bombs on civilian village, injuring 15

Fifteen people were injured in South Korea on March 6 after bombs dropped by fighter jets landed in a civilian district, damaging houses and a church during military exercises in Pocheon, the Air Force and the fire department said.

The Gyeonggi-do Bukbu Fire Services said in a statement that 15 people were wounded, out of which two were seriously hurt.

The South Korean Air Force confirmed that during a live-fire drill conducted as part of the Freedom Shield Exercise 2025, the annual military exercise between the South Korean and US militaries, a KF-16 fighter jet mistakenly released eight MK-82 bombs outside the designated firing range near the Seungjin Training Field in Pocheon.

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South Korea’s Air Force said eight 225kg Mk82 bombs from KF-16 jets fell outside the shooting range during joint live-fire exercises.

“We are sorry for the damage caused by the abnormal drop accident, and we wish the injured a speedy recovery,” the Air Force said in a statement.

Residents in the area have protested about the disturbance and potential danger from nearby training grounds for years.