A U.S. F-16 fighter jet experienced an unspecified in-flight emergency and crashed near South Korea on Monday local time during a routine training exercise, the Air Force said in a statement.
The pilot was able to complete an emergency eject as the jet crashed into the Yellow Sea after taking off from an air base used jointly by U.S. and Korean forces, South Korean news agency Yonhap first reported, citing military sources. Republic of Korea Maritime Forces later recovered the pilot, who is awake an in stable condition, the Air Force’s 8th Fighter Wing, assigned to Kunsan Air Base, confirmed in a statement.
“We are grateful for the safe recovery of our airman by our [Republic of Korea] allies and that the pilot is in good condition,” said Col. Matthew C. Gaetke, 8th Fighter Wing commander, said in the statement.
The incident took place at approximately 8:43 a.m local time,…
