An American F-16 fighter jet crashed into the Yellow Sea off the southwestern coast of South Korea during a training exercise.
The aircraft, assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing, experienced an in-flight emergency, leading to the pilot’s ejection and subsequent rescue by the Republic of Korea Maritime Forces. The pilot is reported to be awake and in stable condition. The cause of the in-flight emergency is not yet known, and a thorough investigation will be conducted. This incident has raised safety concerns following recent U.S. military aircraft crashes in the region, including the Osprey crash in Japan
US Fighter Plane Crash: #F16 Military Jet Crashes Into Yellow Sea Off Korean Peninsula. The Pilot safely Ejected. It took off from an air base in Gunsan, located 178 kilometres south of Seoul. pic.twitter.com/hqb3ZhTFlN
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Response and Investigation
The 8th Fighter Wing and the U.S. Air Force have expressed gratitude for the safe recovery of the pilot following the F-16 crash in the Yellow Sea. Col. Matthew C. Gaetke, the commander of the 8th Fighter Wing, stated, ‘We are grateful for the safe recovery of our Airman by our ROK Allies and that the pilot is in good condition.’
Additionally, it has been highlighted that the cause of the in-flight emergency is not yet known, and a thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the factors that led to the incident.