Mid-air selfie stunt gone horribly wrong? That’s exactly what investigators say led to a jaw-dropping crash involving two South Korean fighter jets — and the details sound like something straight out of a movie.
According to officials, the incident unfolded high above the city of Daegu when two advanced F-15K fighter jets slammed into each other during what should have been a routine mission. Shockingly, both pilots survived without a scratch — but the same can’t be said for the aircraft, which suffered major damage costing roughly $550,000 to repair.
So what went wrong?
A newly released report from Seoul’s Audit and Inspection Board reveals the chaos started when one of the pilots decided to capture a “once-in-a-lifetime” moment — his final flight with his unit — using his phone. And here’s the kicker: this wasn’t some rogue move. Investigators say snapping photos during milestone flights was actually a common, accepted practice at the time.
Things escalated quickly.
The wingman pilot, eager to get the perfect shot, began snapping photos mid-flight while trailing the lead jet. Meanwhile, the lead pilot reportedly told another crew member to film the wingman in action — turning a military exercise into an impromptu aerial photoshoot.
That’s when it all went sideways.
Trying to line up a better shot, the wingman pulled a risky maneuver — climbing higher and flipping his jet for the camera. But the stunt brought the two multi-million-dollar war machines dangerously close. In a desperate attempt to avoid disaster, the lead jet dropped altitude — but it was too late.
The two jets collided mid-air, with one aircraft’s wing smashing into the other’s tail stabilizer.
Miraculously, both pilots made it out alive.
The fallout, however, was massive. The wingman pilot was immediately suspended and later hit with a staggering fine of 880 million won (about $500,000). He fought back, arguing the lead pilot had agreed to the maneuver — and ultimately, the audit board sided partially with him.
In a surprising twist, officials ruled the military itself shares blame for failing to crack down on pilots using phones and cameras in the cockpit. The pilot’s fine was significantly reduced, and his previously clean record was taken into account.
As for consequences for anyone else involved? That remains unclear.
One thing is certain — what started as a simple photo op nearly turned into a deadly disaster in the skies.
