KF-16 crash in March result of human error: Air Force

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- The crash of a KF-16 fighter jet in late March resulted from the failure of its pilots to restore control over the plane, which had been deliberately stalled in mid-air as part of an exercise, the Air Force said Friday.

On March 31, the KF-16 plunged into waters 40 kilometers off South Korea's west
coast during a tactical maneuvering drill. Its two pilots ejected and were
rescued immediately.
The Air Force has since investigated the incident that led to the temporary
suspension of some 130 KF-16 fighter jets, and concluded Friday that the crash
resulted from a human error.
"The pilot in the front seat did not hear warnings of low speed because he was
preoccupied with other operations," an Air Force official said.
"The co-pilot took over the controls but still could not restore flight because
the plane had lost lift after dropping speed rapidly and being overturned," he
said.
The official said the plane was retrieved from the sea nearly unscathed, with
only its tail wing and the front part of its fuselage damaged.
The Air Force routinely conducts drills in which fighter jets are intentionally
stalled at low speeds to test their capabilities to recover in time, the official
said.