Navy says pilot forced to evacuate after jet ‘landing mishap’ that injured seven sailors in South China Sea
The pilot was recovered by a US military helicopter
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Seven sailors were injured Monday when a fighter jet suffered a "landing mishap" on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson and was forced to evacuate, the U.S. Navy said.
The F-35C Joint Strike Fighter jet was conducting routine flight operations in the South China Sea when the mishap occurred, the Navy said in a statement.
F-35C stealth jet sits on deck of USS Carl Vinson in the Western Pacific, south of Japan. (Reuters/Tim Kelly)
The pilot was recovered by a U.S. military helicopter after safely ejecting from the aircraft, the Navy said, adding that pilot is in stable condition.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Three sailors required MEDEVAC to a medical treatment facility in Manila, Philippines. The Navy said they "are assessed as stable." The remaining four were treated onboard by medical personnel and one has been released.
No further details were released. Fox News has reached out to the Navy and Pentagon seeking more information.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}According to the Pentagon, two U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Groups, led by the Carl Vinson and USS Abraham Lincoln, began operations in the South China Sea on Sunday. The carriers entered the disputed waters after China launched 39 aircraft, mostly fighter jet,s near Taiwan – the largest show of force in months.
Fox News Lucas Y. Tomlinson contributed to this report.