WORLD> Asia-Pacific
S Korean fighter jet crashes, pilots rescued
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-31 13:53

SEOUL -- A South Korean KF-16D fighter jet crashed in waters west of the Korean Peninsula on Tuesday, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said.

Related readings:
S Korean fighter jet crashes, pilots rescued Fighter jet crash kills 3 on ground in San Diego
S Korean fighter jet crashes, pilots rescued ROK fighter jet crashes after collision
S Korean fighter jet crashes, pilots rescued American fighter jet crashes in Iraq

According to Yonhap, the KF-16D fighter crashed into the Yellow Sea at 12:07 pm local time (0307 GMT Tuesday).

The two pilots aboard the aircraft escaped successfully and were rescued by ships nearby, said the South Korean Naval Force, adding that the two pilots were not in critical conditions.

The KF-16D jet fighter was on its mission after taking off from an airbase in Seosan at 11:50 a.m. local time (0250 GMT Tuesday), said the Naval Force.

It is the first time the KF-16D crashed after July 20, 2007, Yonhap said.