At about 7:31 p.m. on the 25th, an Air Force F-16C fighter jet crashed during night training on a low mountain in Yongsan-ri, Anjeong-myeon, Yeongju, North Gyeongsang. The pilot ejected before the crash and was reported to be not in life-threatening condition.
There were no civilian casualties. However, a fire broke out on the mountain due to the crash, and fire authorities issued response level 1 and, together with forestry authorities, were dispatched to the scene to conduct firefighting operations.
Fire authorities said, "It is estimated that an area of 200 pyeong has been burned so far," and noted, "There is no concern of the fire spreading."
Yeongju city, through a disaster alert text, advised, "Nearby residents and hikers should evacuate immediately to safe places such as the village hall."
The one pilot aboard the fighter reportedly made an emergency ejection and reported, "I am caught in a tree 20 meters high," giving the location. The pilot is currently understood to be in a non-life-threatening condition.
When making an emergency ejection from a fighter, the seat is jettisoned and the parachute deploys, leading to a descent, and the ejection appears to have been carried out successfully.
The Air Force formed a flight accident task force with the deputy chief of staff as Deputy Minister and is under investigation into the specific circumstances of the accident, including whether the airframe was damaged.