South Korean Fighter Jets Collide Mid-Air Over Daegu as Pilots Distracted by Mobile Phone Photos

Two Republic of Korea Air Force F-15K fighter jets collided in mid-air on December 24, 2021, during a routine formation flight after their pilots became distracted while attempting to capture commemorative photos and videos using personal mobile phones, a government audit report has revealed.

The incident occurred as the aircraft were returning to base following a mission over the central city of Daegu. Both pilots managed to land safely with no injuries reported, but the collision caused significant damage to one jet’s left wing and the other’s tail stabilizer, resulting in repair costs of approximately $596,000.

According to the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) report published on April 22, 2026, the wingman pilot, a major on his final flight with the unit before a transfer, had informed colleagues in a pre-flight briefing of his intention to take photos for commemoration. While flying as the trailing aircraft, he pulled out his personal phone to film himself.

The lead pilot noticed the activity and instructed a crew member in his own aircraft to record video of the wingman’s jet. In response, the wingman abruptly maneuvered his F-15K upward and inverted it by up to 137 degrees to provide a better camera angle, without proper coordination.

This sudden and uncoordinated action caused the wingman’s aircraft to clip the lead jet’s left wing while also sustaining damage to its own tail stabilizer.

The audit highlighted that taking personal photos and videos during notable flights was a “widespread practice” among South Korean Air Force pilots at the time, and the service had failed to implement clear regulations prohibiting such activities in the cockpit.

The Ministry of National Defense initially sought to hold the wingman pilot fully responsible for the repair costs. However, the BAI reduced his liability by 90%, ordering him to pay $59,200). The reduction considered the informal custom of commemorative filming, the Air Force’s inadequate oversight, the pilot’s successful emergency landing, and his service record. The pilot has since left the military.

The South Korean Air Force has issued an apology following the report’s release, acknowledging lapses in flight discipline and the risks posed by personal device use during operations.