U.S. F-16 fighter jet crashes off South Korea, pilot ejects and is rescued

A U.S. F-16 fighter jet crashed Monday off South Korea throughout a routine coaching train after experiencing “an in-flight emergency,” the U.S. army stated, including the pilot ejected and was rescued.

The incident involving an F-16 Combating Falcon assigned to the eighth Fighter Wing occurred early Monday over the Yellow Sea, the U.S. Air Power stated in a press release.

“The pilot ejected the plane. The pilot has been recovered by Republic of Korea Maritime Forces, awake and in steady situation,” the assertion stated, including he could be evaluated additional again at base.

“We’re grateful for the protected restoration of our Airman by our ROK Allies and that the pilot is in good situation,” stated Col. Matthew C. Gaetke, the eighth Fighter Wing’s commander, in line with the assertion.

The USAF stated the reason for the in-flight emergency was unknown.

“The incident might be totally investigated,” it stated, including that the pilot’s title and additional phrase on his situation would not be launched.

South Korea’s protection ministry declined to remark.

In Might, a U.S. F-16 jet crashed throughout a routine coaching train in a farming space south of Seoul, South Korea. The pilot ejected safely and the accident precipitated no different casualties.

Washington is Seoul’s most necessary safety ally and has about 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea to assist defend it from nuclear-armed North Korea.

In neighboring Japan, the U.S. army introduced final week that it was grounding its fleet of V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft following a lethal crash that killed eight U.S. airmen.