U.S. Fighter Jet Crashes off Japan; Pilot Uninjured

WASHINGTON — A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B fighter jet crashed into the Pacific Ocean just off Japan’s coast Friday, but the pilot parachuted safely into the water and was rescued by fishermen, the Pentagon said.

The crash was the latest in a recent series of U.S. military air accidents, including the mid-air collision of two fighter jets at Edwards Air Force Base on Wednesday. That mishap killed two crewmen.

A statement released at the Pentagon said the Marine Corps jet, based at Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station in Japan, crashed east of the station.

The pilot, who was conducting a post-maintenance check flight at the time, was taken to the medical clinic at the air station was was being treated for abrasions, according to the statement.