A US F-16 fighter jet crashed off the west coast of South Korea earlier today (January 31) at around 8:41 am (local time). No casualties have been reported so far and the pilot was rescued safely and transferred to a hospital for medical assessment.
According to the AFP, the jet crashed near Mokdeok Island, about 180 km south of Seoul.
The rescue operations were carried out jointly by the American and South Korean officials. “We are very thankful to the Republic of Korea rescue forces and all of our teammates who made the swift recovery of our pilot possible,” said Col. Matthew C. Gaetke, the wing’s commander.
Investigation is underway. The exact cause of the crash has not been discerned yet.The incident occurred during a routine military exercise during which an “in flight emergency” prompted the pilot to eject before the aircraft crashed into the sea near the city of Seosan.
4 US Air Force Crashes In Less Than A Year
This is the second accident in less than two months involving the 8th Wing Commander which has two F16 squadrons. Last month, in December 2023, a similar crash happened in the sea near the part city of Gunsan.
Similarly, back in May 2023, another US F-16 had crashed in a farming area, south of Seoul, during a training routine.
None of these accidents involved any casualties or fatal injuries and both pilots escaped unharmed.
However, the November 29 crash of a US Air Force Osprey aircraft off the coast of Japan turned to be rather unfortunate incident, with all 8 people on board dying.
Follows the death of 3 US Army officials
The news also comes in the wake of the death of 3 US army officials in Jordan who were targeted by Iran-backed militant groups in Iraq. The news was confirmed by the American President, Mr. Biden on Sunday, January 28.
Three US bases in the Syria-Jordan border were targeted which resulted in the death of 3 and injured more than 30.
Pentagon revealed the identities of the deceased officials on Tuesday, January 30.
Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia died in the attack. “Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated that they were all assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, a US Army Reserve unit situated in Fort Moore, Georgia,” as per the USA Teller.
“Have no doubt – we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing,” Biden further stated.
