Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Parasailers who saw a U.S. fighter jet crash into the Pacific Ocean Wednesday helped save the civilian pilot and said the emergency unfolded quickly.
The U.S. military is investigating the accident. The plane was part of a Hawaii Air National Guard training exercise. The pilot, a civilian contractor, ejected before the plane hit the water, but received serious injuries.
The Hawker Hunter plane crashed after taking off from Hawaii's Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
"It was kind of a lot of adrenaline, I've never seen anything like that," parasailer Mack Ladner told CBS News.
Ladner jumped into the water to rescue the 47-year-old pilot and untangled his parachute. He said the pilot complained of back pain.
"He had a little blood coming out I think it might have been the impact because I mean he was going pretty fast," Ladner said.
The pilot was participating in Sentry Aloha exercises when he ejected about five miles south of Sand Island. The drills are hosted by the Air Guard's 154th Wing for realistic combat training for Air National Guard, U.S. Air Force and other Department of Defense services, officials said.
The exercises resumed Thursday.
