Seoul: An American F-16 fighter jet encountered an “in-flight emergency” over the West Sea off South Korea and subsequently crashed early Wednesday, according to a statement from the US military. The incident occurred at approximately 8:41 am local time (2341 GMT), with the pilot successfully ejecting and being rescued by 9:30 am. The pilot, who remained conscious, was transported to a medical facility for evaluation.
Colonel Matthew C. Gaetke, commander of the 8th Fighter Wing, expressed gratitude for the cooperation with South Korean rescue forces, highlighting their role in the swift recovery of the pilot. The focus of efforts now shifts to locating and retrieving the crashed aircraft.
Details regarding the cause of the in-flight emergency will not be disclosed until thorough safety and accident investigations are completed, as stated in the military’s announcement.
The Korea Coast Guard reported that the fighter jet went down near Mokdeok Island, situated off South Korea’s west coast. This marks the third incident involving an American F-16 crash in South Korea since May 2023.
In December, another US F-16 crashed during a routine training exercise due to an in-flight emergency, with the pilot also being safely rescued. Similarly, in May of the previous year, a US F-16 jet crashed during training in a farming area south of Seoul, resulting in no casualties aside from the pilot, who ejected safely.
The United States maintains a significant military presence in South Korea, with approximately 28,500 troops stationed there to bolster the country’s defense against threats, particularly from North Korea.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Japan, the US military announced the suspension of its V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft fleet following a fatal crash that claimed the lives of eight US airmen, as reported late last year.
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