Fuel Tanks Detach from U.S. F-16 Over Saemangeum Area

On the 22nd, an accident occurred where a fuel tank fell from an F-16 fighter jet belonging to the U.S. Forces Korea while flying over the Saemangeum area in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do.

According to the U.S. Air Force’s 8th Fighter Wing, an emergency occurred on the F-16 fighter jet that took off from the Gunsan base around 10 a.m. that day, causing two fuel tanks to fall into South Korea’s west coast near Saemangeum.

The fighter jet returned safely to base and reportedly had no casualties.

An official from the 8th Fighter Wing said, “We will cooperate with related agencies for search and recovery operations, and an investigation will be conducted on the cause of the emergency.”

This is the second crash involving an F-16 fighter jet belonging to the U.S. Forces Korea this year.

On the 31st of last month, an F-16 fighter jet crashed into the West Sea in front of Seosan, Chungnam during a flight. The pilots were safely rescued at the time. A month before that, on December 11th of last year, an F-16 that took off from the Gunsan Air Force Base crashed into the West Sea.