A South Korean Air Force F-16C fighter jet crashed in a mountainous area near Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, during a nighttime training flight on February 25, 2026, with the pilot ejecting safely and later being rescued, according to Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) statements.
ROKAF said the aircraft, a single-seat F-16C assigned to Chungju Air Base, went down at around 19:31 local time during night flight training near Yongsan-ri in Anjeong-myeon, Yeongju. Initial reports indicated no civilian casualties.
The pilot ejected and became caught in a tree on the mountainside before being located by emergency responders at around 20:10 Yonhap News reported the pilot’s condition was not life-threatening, while later local and broadcast reports said extraction from the rugged terrain took longer and was completed later in the evening, with the pilot transferred to the Korean Air Force Aerospace Medical Center located in Cheongju.
The crash also triggered a wildfire near the impact area, affecting about 660 square meters. Authorities temporarily evacuated nearby residents as a precaution amid concerns over possible fuel-related hazards, pollution, and fire spread, with local reports citing 13 residents moved to a village hall.
The South Korean Air Force has established an accident response headquarters led by the Vice Chief of Staff and said an official investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.
It is the second military F-16 crash reported in less than 24 hours, after a Turkish Air Force jet went down near Balikesir early on February 25, 2026, killing its pilot.
