Yeongju: An F-16C fighter jet crashed near Yeongju last week following a midair collision with another fighter jet during a nighttime training exercise, as reported by the Air Force on Wednesday. The incident occurred in a mountainous region around 7:31 p.m., resulting in the pilot ejecting safely and no civilian damage being reported.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the collision involved two F-16C fighter jets engaged in a training session when the leading aircraft performed a damage check on the trailing jet. The pilot of the lead jet, equipped with night vision goggles, misjudged the distance between the planes, causing the midair collision. The leading aircraft's fuel tank struck the right wing of the trailing jet, disabling its head-up display system, which is crucial for providing flight information such as altitude and position.

The compromised trailing jet spiraled downward, but the pilot managed an emergency escape, ensuring the crash occurred away from civilian areas. The Air Force highlighted that the night vision goggles, mandatory for such training to enhance visibility and operational capability, impaired the pilot's ability to accurately judge the distance between the jets.

An Air Force official noted that night vision goggles limit human vision to approximately 40 degrees compared to normal eyesight, affecting the pilot's perception of distance and contributing to the collision.