|
Last month's crash of a fighter jet into the Yellow Sea during a training mission was caused by poor engine maintenance, the Air Force said Monday.
The KF-16 fighter jet crashed on Feb. 13 during shooting exercise near a firing range in Boryung-Si, South Chung-cheong Province.
According to the Air Force, four KF-16s have crashed since Korea began buying them from the U.S. in 1994, but this was the first due to poor maintenance. It was the first fighter crash due to engine problems in the last 20 years, an Air Force official said.
Each KF-16 costs around W42.5 billion, but because the crash was Korea's fault, Korea will not receive any compensation for it.
An Air Force investigative committee said on Monday that an analysis of the downed plane's engine showed that the accident happened because mechanics failed to replace a cover plate on the engine's turbine blades during a repair in 2004.
The Air Forces said it is now trying to learn why the cover plate was not replaced and that those responsible would be called before a disciplinary committee and censured.
The pilot of the jet, Captain Woo, ejected before the crash and was rescued.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
