Incident in the Yellow Sea: US F-16 Fighter Jet Crash During Training in South Korea
A US F-16 fighter jet crashed in South Korea during a routine training flight on Monday, experiencing an in-flight emergency. Fortunately, the pilot ejected and was rescued, surviving the crash.
The incident involved an F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing and occurred early in the morning over the Yellow Sea, according to a statement from the US Air Force (USAF). The pilot’s ejection was successful, and the Republic of Korea Maritime Forces recovered the pilot, who was reported to be awake and in stable condition. The pilot will undergo further evaluation back at the base.
Colonel Matthew C. Gaetke, the 8th Fighter Wing’s commander, expressed gratitude for the safe recovery of the Airman by Republic of Korea Allies and noted that the pilot is in good condition.
The USAF stated that the cause of the in-flight emergency is unknown and that a thorough investigation will be conducted. The pilot’s name will not be released, and further details about their condition will not be disclosed.
The crash occurred over the Yellow Sea after the jet took off from an air base in Gunsan, located 178 kilometers south of Seoul, according to Yonhap, citing unnamed sources. South Korea’s defense ministry declined to comment on the incident.
This incident follows a previous crash in May, where a US F-16 jet crashed in a farmland area south of Seoul during a routine training exercise. In that case, the pilot safely ejected, and there were no additional casualties.
The US military recently grounded its fleet of V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft in nearby Japan after a crash that claimed the lives of eight US airmen. Washington, with 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea to assist in defending it from North Korea, remains Seoul’s main security ally.
