SEOUL, January 31. /TASS/. An American F-16 fighter jet has crashed on the west coast of South Korea, the Yonhap news agency reported.

According to its sources, the pilot ejected and was not injured. The plane crashed into the sea at about 8:40 a.m. local time (5:40 p.m. GMT) in the Jeonbuk State near the Kunsan Air Base.

The US Air Force later confirmed the crash. "The pilot ejected safely and was recovered at around 9:30 a.m. (4:30 p.m. GMT). He is conscious and was transported to a medical facility for assessment [of his condition]," the statement posted on the Kunsan Air Base website said. The military also pointed out that the emergency occurred during the flight.

The wing commander thanked South Korea for its help in rescuing the US serviceman and said that forces will now be directed to search for the plane's wreckage. The cause of the crash will not be released until the investigation is complete.

A similar situation took place in December 2023. On December 11, an American F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight over the Yellow Sea. The pilot was able to eject.