A South Korean fighter pilot has been ordered to pay 88 million won ($59,200) in damages over a 2021 mid-air collision he caused by trying to get photos and videos of himself flying, an official report said on Wednesday.

The pilot, whose identity was withheld, wanted to capture footage of his last sortie before reassignment, according to the report by the Board of Audit and Inspection.

While travelling at 578 kilometres per hour (359 mph), he had the pilot of a second plane and another colleague take snaps of him on their phones.

In search of the perfect shot, he flipped his jet and flew close to the other aircraft, resulting in a misjudgement that caused his left stabilator — a horizontal stabiliser on a plane’s tail — to collide with its wing.

There were no casualties, but the unsanctioned move caused 878 million won in damages.

The pilot’s manoeuvre, which had not been coordinated with others in his formation, caused the aircraft to “invert up to 137 degrees so that its upper side could be captured on video”, the report published on Wednesday said.

The defence ministry initially ordered him to pay the full amount but he appealed to the board, which reduced his liability to 10% of the total repair costs.

The board took into account that other pilots had previously conducted in-flight filming, and that he had still safely commanded the flight and returned to base without causing further damage.

“Since commissioning in 2010, the individual has served for an extended period as a fighter pilot, managing aircraft safely,” the report said.

While the report did not specify what type of aircraft was involved, the Yonhap news agency said it was an F-15K.

DUBAI: Dubai has announced a major new metro project, with authorities saying the “Golden Line” will cost 34 billion dirhams ($9.25 billion) and is expected to be completed by September 9, 2032.

The planned “Golden Line” will run about 40 metres underground and connect 15 key areas across the emirate, according to details shared by the emirate’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on social media.

The project is expected to serve around 1.5 million people and support 55 major real estate developments currently under construction.

Dubai said the new line would expand the total length of its metro network by 35%, as part of broader efforts to improve transport infrastructure and accommodate population and urban growth.

Iran’s agriculture minister said a US naval blockade has had little impact on the country’s ability to supply basic goods and food, citing strong domestic production and alternative import routes.

“Despite the US naval blockade, we have no problem in supplying basic goods and food because, due to the size of the country, it is possible to import from different borders,” Agriculture Minister Gholamreza Nouri said on Tuesday.

“About 85 percent of agricultural products and basic goods are produced domestically, so the country’s food security is established,” he added, according to the official IRNA news agency.

The United States imposed a naval blockade on Iran’s ports and coasts on April 13, days after a ceasefire was announced that paused its war with Iran.

Iran has strongly criticised the blockade, describing it as a violation of the ceasefire.