According to South Korea**, a US military F-16 fighter jet in South Korea crashed in the Yellow Sea on the morning of the 11th, and the pilot ejected urgently, and rescue is currently underway. This is the second F-16 crash of the US military stationed in South Korea this year, and it is also one of a series of frequent crashes in the Asia-Pacific region, which has raised questions about the level of US military equipment and training.
According to reports, the F-16 fighter is part of the 8th Fighter Wing of the US military stationed in South Korea and is deployed at the Gunsan Air Base in Gunsan City, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea. On the morning of the same day, while participating in a joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea, the plane crashed into the Yellow Sea for unknown reasons, about 77 kilometers from the coastline of South Korea. The pilot successfully ejected before the crash, but the pilot's vital condition remains unclear due to the low sea temperature.
After receiving the distress signal, the South Korean Navy and Coast Guard immediately dispatched *** and ships to the scene of the incident to carry out rescue operations together with the US military. At the moment, rescuers have found the pilot's ejection seat and life raft, but have not found the pilot himself. The rescue operation is still ongoing, affected by the local adverse weather and sea conditions.
The US military expressed regret over the crash and said that it would conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident and maintain close cooperation with the ROK. The US military also said that it would make every effort to find and rescue the pilot, and at the same time expressed condolences to the pilot's family.
It is reported that this F-16 fighter is one of the most commonly used third-generation aircraft in the US military, which has been in service for nearly 40 years and has participated in many wars and conflicts. However, over time, the technical level and performance of the F-16 fighter has lagged behind the new generation of stealth fighters, and due to frequent use and insufficient maintenance, the failure rate and crash rate of the F-16 fighter have gradually increased.
In May this year, there was an F-16 crash in the 8th Fighter Wing of the US military stationed in South Korea, and the pilot also ejected and escaped, but the plane fell into the farmland near the base. Since the beginning of this year, the US military has also had a number of crashes of other types of fighters and aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region, including F-35, F-18, F-15, V-22, etc., resulting in dozens of US soldiers killed or injured.
These accidents not only expose the aging and lack of maintenance of the US military's equipment, but also reflect the frequent and adventurous actions of the US military in the Asia-Pacific region. In order to contain China's development, the US military has continuously increased its military presence and activities in the Asia-Pacific region, including conducting ** patrols, military aircraft reconnaissance, military Xi and other sensitive waters in sensitive waters such as the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea and the Yellow Sea, provoking and threatening China's security interests. However, these actions not only failed to achieve the goals of the US military, but instead exacerbated regional tension and instability, and also brought greater risks and pressure to the US military itself.
Experts believe that the US military should face up to the realities and changes in the Asia-Pacific region, stop its hostility and pressure on China, and take concrete actions to promote peace and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, instead of creating incidents and crises through military provocations and adventures. The US military should also strengthen the management and improvement of its own equipment and training to avoid the recurrence of similar plane crashes and unnecessary losses and injuries caused by the "100 Families of Assistance Program."