A South Korean fighter pilot has been ordered to pay 88 million won (about $59,200) in damages after a mid-air collision while attempting to film himself during a training flight nearly five years ago, according to an official report released Wednesday.The incident, which occurred in 2021, involved a pilot flying an F-15K who was reportedly trying to capture footage of his final flight before reassignment. The findings were detailed by the Audit and Oversight Board.According to the report, the pilot asked a second aircraft to take pictures and videos using a mobile phone while traveling at a speed of about 578 kilometers per hour. In an attempt to improve the shot, he turned his jet upside down and flew dangerously close to the other aircraft.During the maneuver, the pilot misjudged the distance between the two jets, causing the left stabilator, part of the tail assembly, 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 flipping the aircraft at angles of up to 137 degrees to capture footage.The South Korean Defense Ministry initially held the pilot responsible for the entire cost of the repairs. However, following an appeal, the board reduced the fine to 10 percent of the total, citing mitigating factors. These included the absence of casualties, the pilot’s safe return to base, and the fact that similar filming practices had occurred before during the flight. The report also cites his long service record, saying he has operated the aircraft safely since it was commissioned in 2010.
