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South Korea Grounds Most Air Force Aircraft After Training Mishap

A KA-1 aircraft accidentally dropped gun pods and fuel tanks during a drill, prompting flight restrictions and intensified safety measures.

This file photo, provided by the defense ministry, shows the KA-1 light attack aircraft. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
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Overview

  • The Air Force grounded nearly all aircraft until Tuesday morning after a KA-1 light attack aircraft jettisoned gun pods and fuel tanks over Pyeongchang during a nighttime drill on April 18.
  • Search efforts for the missing fuel tanks and live ammunition continue, while the gun pods have already been recovered.
  • The incident disrupts the Freedom Flag exercise, a joint South Korea–US drill involving 90 aircraft and 1,100 troops, set to resume Tuesday afternoon.
  • Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Lee Young-su will meet commanders on Monday to enforce stricter inspections and prevent future accidents.
  • Experts link the recent string of military mishaps, including a March bombing error and a UAV collision, to inconsistent training and a leadership vacuum since December.