During a routine training exercise on Monday, a U.S. F-16 fighter jet crashed off the coast of South Korea after encountering “an in-flight emergency,” according to the U.S. military. The F-16, assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing, went down over the Yellow Sea.
The pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft, and the Republic of Korea Maritime Forces promptly rescued him. The pilot is reported to be awake and in stable condition, with further evaluation planned upon return to the base.
Colonel Matthew C. Gaetke, the commander of the 8th Fighter Wing, expressed gratitude for the safe recovery of the pilot by South Korean allies, emphasizing the pilot’s good condition.
The U.S. Air Force stated that the cause of the in-flight emergency remains unknown and will be subject to a thorough investigation. The pilot’s identity and additional details about their condition are being withheld for the time being. a routine training exercise
South Korea’s defense ministry has not provided comments on the incident. In a similar event in May, a U.S. F-16 crashed during a routine training exercise near Seoul, with the pilot ejecting safely and no other casualties reported.
The U.S. military, in a separate development, announced the grounding of its V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft in Japan following a recent crash that resulted in the tragic death of eight U.S. airmen.