Incident Overview
A crew departed Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa on a bombing mission targeting bridges over the Yalu River, at the border between China and North Korea. The aircraft was a heavy bomber.
Attack and Diversion
En route to the target, the bomber was attacked by a pilot of a Soviet Air Force MiG-15. The attacker was identified as Major G. I. Kharkovskii. Despite the attack, the crew managed to leave the area but was forced to divert to Seoul-Kimpo Airport in South Korea for an emergency landing.
Emergency Landing and Collision
Upon touchdown, the heavy bomber went out of control. It veered off the runway and collided with several parked aircraft. The impact caused substantial damage.
Aftermath
All 12 crew members were evacuated from the aircraft. Three of them sustained injuries. The aircraft itself was damaged beyond repair.
Probable Cause
According to the official findings, the probable cause of the incident was that the aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a Soviet Air Force fighter.