A South Korean fighter pilot was ordered to pay 88 million won (about $59,200) in compensation after he caused a mid-air collision about 5 years ago while trying to film himself during a training flight, according to an official report released Wednesday.The accident, which occurred in 2021, involved a pilot flying an F-15K who was trying to capture footage of his final sortie before being reassigned. The Audit and Inspection Board detailed the findings.According to the report, the pilot asked a second plane in the formation to take photos and videos using mobile phones while traveling at a speed of about 578 kilometers per hour. In an attempt to improve the shot, he flipped his plane and maneuvered dangerously close to the other plane.During the maneuver, the pilot misjudged the distance between the two aircraft, causing the left stabilizer, part of the empennage, to collide with the wing of the other aircraft. No injuries were reported, but the collision resulted in damage estimated at 878 million won.Investigators found that the pilot’s actions were not coordinated with other members of the formation, and included turning the plane at an angle of up to 137 degrees to capture the footage.
The South Korean Defense Ministry initially held the pilot responsible for the full cost of repairs. However, after appeal, the board reduced the penalty to 10 percent of the total, citing mitigating factors. This included the lack of casualties, the pilot’s safe return to base, and the fact that similar filming practices had occurred during the flight previously. The report also noted his long service record, noting that he has operated aircraft safely since they were commissioned in 2010.
