F-16D Fighter Jet Crashes In South Korea After Engine Fails In Flight
Two South Korean air force pilots were forced to eject from their F-16D fighter jet after the aircraft's engine failed suddenly during a routine drill on Wednesday.
The pilots were reportedly uninjured when the F-16D fighter jet they were flying crashed into a grassy hill in Cheongsong County, 200 miles southeast of Seoul. After leaving the base in Chungju, South Korea, the single-engine F-16D fighter was engaged in an air strike exercise when it crashed.
A military spokesperson told the Korea Times that a commission would be formed to look into what caused the troubling engine failure.
"The Air Force is investigating the exact cause of the accident after setting up an emergency accident handling committee," said the rep for the South Korean air force.
Immediately upon receiving word of the engine trouble at several thousand feet, military emergency personnel dispatched a helicopter to put out the fire in the remote region started by the F-16D fighter jet crash, which is a member of the air force's 19th Fighter Wing.
The last time a fighter jet crashed in South Korea was on Sept. 26, 2013, the Shanghai Daily reports.
An F-5E, an older model aircraft the military was in the process of phasing out, crashed into a mountain in the country's central region. According to the Yonhap News Agency, it was only through the bravery and brute force of the pilot, that the plane did not crash in a populated area. The 32-year-old pilot was unharmed.
"The aircraft's nose rapidly soared and slanted toward the right shortly after it took off and lifted landing gear," Air Force Col. Kang Sung Ku announced the following month following an investigation.
"The pilot tried to make an emergency landing four times for about 30 minutes, but he decided to eject as he couldn't control the aircraft's pitch."
At the 2013 press conference, Kang promised that the crash would receive a proactive response.
"We will conduct reviews on the same component and reinforce the maintenance system to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents," he said. "The mechanic and senior supervisors will face disciplinary action according to their level of responsibility."
