Korean fighter jet pilot fined five years after damaging plane while filming during flight

South Korean authorities found that two fighter jets collided in mid-air during a 2021 flight because pilots were taking pictures and videos, Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Seoul’s Board of Audit and Inspection found that one of the pilots, a Major rank, expressed his intention to film his flight during a briefing ahead of the December 2021 incident, as it was the last flight before he would be transferred, Yonhap noted.

The pilot was flying an F-15K, Yonhap said.

Another pilot from the same squadron offered to take a picture, so the Major maneuvered in order to allow the photo to be taken. During this maneuver, the tail fin of his plane clipped the left wing of the other plane.

Both planes suffered minor damage, but the pilots were able to land without any injuries.

The repairs cost a total of 870 million won, approximately $600,000.

The Defense Ministry initially ordered the Major to compensate the government for the full cost of repairs. He admitted negligence, but requested a ruling from the Board of Audit and Inspection, arguing that he was not an employee with responsibility for protecting and maintaining military supplies, and had not significantly violated his duty of care, Yonhap reported.

The board determined that he was, in fact, responsible and that his gross negligence was the cause of the damage.

However, the board reduced his compensation liability by 90%, ruling that he is to be fined 87 million won, approximately $60,000.

“We considered the fact that the agency bore partial responsibility for failing to strictly control filming, as evidenced by statements from those involved that filming had occurred during other flights as well, the fact that the Major commanded the flight in an urgent situation and returned safely, and the fact that he contributed to the efficient maintenance of fighter jets while serving as a pilot for a long period,” Yonhap cited the board as saying.

According to the British public broadcaster, the BBC, the pilot has since left military service.