Mid-air selfie stunt: S Korea pilot fined $59K for 2021 fighter jet collision

A South Korean fighter pilot has been ordered to pay 88 million won (about $59,200) in damages after causing a mid-air collision around 5 years back while attempting to film himself during a training flight, according to an official report released Wednesday.The incident, which occurred in 2021, involved a pilot flying an F-15K who was reportedly trying to capture footage of his final sortie before reassignment. The findings were detailed by the Board of Audit and Inspection.According to the report, the pilot asked a second aircraft in formation to take photos and videos using mobile phones while travelling at speeds of around 578 kilometres per hour. In an effort to improve the shot, he inverted his jet and manoeuvred dangerously close to the other aircraft.During the manoeuvre, the pilot misjudged the distance between the two jets, causing the left stabilator, part of the tail assembly, to strike the wing of the other aircraft. No injuries were reported, but the collision resulted in damage estimated at 878 million won.Investigators found that the pilot’s actions were not coordinated with other members of the formation and involved flipping the aircraft to an angle of up to 137 degrees to capture footage.South Korea’s defence ministry initially held the pilot liable for the full cost of repairs. However, following an appeal, the board reduced the penalty to 10 per cent of the total, citing mitigating factors. These included the absence of casualties, the pilot’s safe return to base, and the fact that similar in-flight filming practices had occurred previously. The report also cited his long service record, stating he had operated aircraft safely since being commissioned in 2010.