According to the US Navy, at least seven American sailors were hurt after a "landing incident" involving a combat aircraft on the deck of a nuclear-powered US carrier in the South China Sea.
Pilot Ejects After F-35 Lightning II 'Landing Mishap' on USS Carl Vinson in South China Sea - USNI Newshttps://t.co/0FA078foQf pic.twitter.com/SEFzwsorGL
— USNI News (@USNINews) January 24, 2022
The F-35C Lightning II jet was "performing conventional flight operations" when it crashed on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson, according to a statement released late Monday by the US Pacific Fleet command.
"The pilot safely jumped from the aircraft and was retrieved by US military helicopter," the US Navy's Hawaii office said in a statement, adding that the airman "is in stable condition."
Three of the seven sailors who were injured were airlifted to a hospital in Manila, the Philippine capital.
Onboard the USS Carl Vinson, four other crew members were treated and released. On the fourth sailor's condition, no other information was provided.
The incident is being investigated, including the cause. The Navy didn't say anything about the plane's current situation.
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group was drilling with the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in the South China Sea when the mishap occurred.
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