U.S. pilot ejects as F-16 crashes off South Korean coast

Dec. 11 (UPI) -- A U.S. Air Force pilot was in "stable condition" after ejecting from an F-16 fighter that crashed on Monday off the coast of South Korea, officials said.

South Korean maritime forces rescued the pilot after Air Force officials said that it appeared the fighter jet experienced an inflight emergency over the Yellow Sea at 8:43 a.m. local time.

"We are grateful for the safe recovery of our airman by our [South Korean] allies and that the pilot is in good condition," Col. Matthew C. Gaetke, 8th Fighter Wing commander, said in a statement.

Air Force officials said the pilot was returned to Kunsan Air Base, near the city of Gunsan, for further evaluation. His name and details about his condition were not released.

The plane crashed after taking off from Kunsan Air Base in southwestern South Korea, some 110 miles south of Seoul.

The accident comes on the heels of eight U.S. airmen killed when an Osprey hybrid aircraft malfunctioned last month off the coast of Japan. One of the service members remains missing.

The Pentagon announced last week it was grounding its entire fleet of V-22 Osprey aircraft while an investigation continues into the deadly crash.