By Saadet Gokce
ISTANBUL (AA) - Two South Korean air commanders were removed from their posts Tuesday for the accidental bombing of a village last week, according to media reports.
“The Air Force dismissed a colonel-level group commander and a lieutenant colonel-level squadron commander who were identified to have breached their duty to abide by regulations,” Seoul-based Yonhap News reported, citing the armed forces’ notice to reporters.
The unit commanders were dismissed on charges of major dereliction of duty and insufficient command management and supervision, according to the notice.
Two KF-16 fighter jets dropped eight MK-82 bombs outside a training range in Pocheon, 40 kilometers (24.85 miles) north of Seoul, during live-fire drills last Thursday, injuring 31, including 19 civilians and 12 soldiers, while also damaging 152 houses.
Authorities plan to hold a meeting next week to assess whether the two pilots will be allowed to continue operating aircraft.
According to an initial probe, pilot error is suspected to have caused the accidental bombing as the pilots entered the wrong target coordinates before takeoff and missed at least three opportunities to correct their mistakes.
The Air Force also blamed the incident on poor management and inspection processes, stating that superiors failed to provide specific instructions.
South Korea's Air Force chief issued a public apology Monday for the accidental bombing.
The military has suspended all live-fire training until the exact cause of the accident is determined.
The central government has designated the affected area as a special disaster zone, granting financial aid for recovery efforts and relief funds to those affected.