The collision occurred over Daegu in central South Korea, the audit board said. The wingman pilot was taking personal photos on what was meant to be his final flight with the unit, a common practice among pilots at the time. He used his personal mobile phone while returning to base, according to the board. The wingman pilot stated in a pre-flight briefing that he intended to take pictures, the board added.
The lead pilot was aware of the filming and asked another crew member to record the wingman jet. The wingman pilot suddenly climbed and rolled his aircraft to improve the camera angle, bringing both jets dangerously close. To avoid a collision, the lead aircraft tried to descend quickly, but the two F-15K jets still made contact. The lead jet suffered damage to its left wing, while the wingman aircraft's tail stabilizer was hit.
Repair costs to the military totaled 880 million won (about £440,500). The air force initially sought full recovery from the wingman pilot, but the audit board reduced his liability to one-tenth of the original claim, saying the air force also bore responsibility for failing to properly regulate personal filming during operations. The board noted his previously clean record and that he helped prevent further damage by returning the aircraft safely after impact.
The wingman pilot was suspended and later left the air force to work for a commercial airline. According to the board, taking personal photos during notable flights was a common practice among pilots at the time. The board also noted his previously clean record and the fact he helped prevent further damage by returning the aircraft safely after the impact.