$600K Damage to Fighter Jets Due to Photo-Taking Pilot

A staged photo session during a routine flight turned into a costly accident for South Korea’s air force, according to a newly released government audit.

The report from Seoul’s Board of Audit and Inspection details how two F-15K fighter jets collided in midair over Daegu in 2021 while attempting to capture images and video. Investigators say the incident caused significant damage, with repairs totaling roughly 880 million won (about $596,000).

According to the findings, the pilot flying as the wingman—on his final mission with the unit—had already indicated before takeoff that he intended to take photos. During the flight, he used his personal phone while following the lead aircraft. At one point, the lead pilot offered to help take pictures, leading the wingman to request that another crew member in the lead jet record video instead.

As the maneuvering intensified, the wingman climbed and rolled his aircraft to get a better angle, bringing the jets too close together. The lead pilot attempted to avoid a crash by descending, while the wingman abruptly pulled upward. Despite those efforts, the aircraft struck each other, damaging a wing and a tail stabilizer.

Initially, the wingman was ordered to cover the entire cost of the repairs. However, after appealing the decision—arguing the lead pilot was aware of the situation and did not intervene—auditors reduced his financial responsibility to 10 percent. They concluded that the air force itself bore part of the blame for not having clear rules governing personal photography during flights.

The report also highlighted that taking photos during missions was not unusual at the time, describing it as a common practice among pilots. No disciplinary measures against the other crew members were publicly detailed.

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