The pilot of an F-35C Lightning II was forced to safely eject from the aircraft following a landing "mishap" on the deck of San Diego-based USS Carl Vinson.
The incident happened Monday after the flight conducted routine operations in the South China Sea, the military said. The pilot was recovered by a military helicopter and is "stable," officials said.
Seven sailors were also injured during the incident. Three of them were flown to a treatment center in Manila, Philippines. The four others were treated on the aircraft carrier.
The three who were flown to the Philippines are "stable," the military said. The other four were treated and released. The cause of the incident is under investigation.
The F-35C jet is the most advanced aircraft used by the Navy and Marine Corps.
The Pentagon said two carrier strike groups, led by the Carl Vinson and USS Abraham Lincoln began operations in the South China Sea on Sunday. Jan. 23. The carriers entered the disputed sea for training as Taiwan reported a new Chinese air force incursion at the top of the waterway.
(Photo Getty Images)
Photo: U.S. Navy