A Republic of Korea (ROK) Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon met with disaster on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, crashing into a rugged mountainous region near Yeongju City during a routine night training sortie.

The incident unfolded around 7:31 p.m. local time, prompting a swift emergency response from military and civilian authorities.

The aircraft, which departed from Chungju Air Base, plummeted into Anjeong-myeon in North Gyeongsang Province. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by flames lighting up the darkened hillsides. The crash ignited a small wildfire, scorching approximately 660 square metres of terrain before firefighters brought it under control by 9:10 p.m.

In a stroke of fortune, the 33-year-old pilot—identified only as Captain A—ejected successfully from the stricken jet. He was soon located dangling unharmed in a tree, a testament to the efficacy of the F-16's ejection system. Rescuers extracted him promptly and transferred him to the Aerospace Medical Center for evaluation.

Medical assessments confirmed that Captain A sustained no serious injuries and remains in stable condition, with no threat to his life. The ROK Air Force expressed relief over his well-being, underscoring the pilot's training and the aircraft's safety features as key factors in his survival.

No civilian casualties or injuries were reported in the vicinity, despite the remote yet populated nature of the crash site. Local authorities coordinated with military teams to secure the area and prevent any secondary hazards from the wreckage.

The F-16C involved traced its origins to 1986, forming part of South Korea's ageing yet vital fighter fleet. It had benefited from a comprehensive performance upgrade in 2015, enhancing its avionics, radar capabilities, and overall combat effectiveness. Such mid-life refits have extended the service life of these multirole fighters amid delays in newer platforms.

In response, the ROK Air Force swiftly convened a special task force under the leadership of the Vice Chief of Staff. This panel will probe the crash's root cause, examining factors such as mechanical failure, pilot error, or environmental conditions prevalent during the night flight.

Night training missions like this one are standard for maintaining operational readiness, particularly in simulating real-world combat scenarios. However, the incident highlights ongoing challenges with legacy aircraft, even post-upgrade, in demanding conditions such as low visibility over mountainous terrain.

The wreckage lies scattered across the steep slopes of Yeongju's highlands, complicating recovery efforts. Investigators anticipate retrieving the flight data recorder and black box to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the mishap.

This crash marks another entry in the F-16's incident ledger for the ROK Air Force, though ejection success rates remain high. It comes amid broader discussions on fleet modernisation, including the anticipated arrival of F-35A stealth fighters to phase out older models.

South Korean defence officials have pledged full transparency in the inquiry, with preliminary findings expected within weeks. For now, training operations at affected units proceed under heightened safety protocols.

The event draws international attention, given the F-16's ubiquity in allied air forces, including potential implications for regional deterrence against North Korean threats.

Yonhap