A Navy jet crashed into the sea as it prepared to make a late-night landing on an aircraft carrier, but the pilot ejected and was listed in stable condition, officials said.
The F/A-18E Super Hornet was making its approach to USS Carl Vinson off the southern California coast about 10 p.m. Wednesday when it went down, Navy spokeswoman Lt. Reagan B. Lauritzen said.
"The pilot ejected from the aircraft, was recovered safely and is currently aboard Carl Vinson in stable condition," she said.
Lauritzen said she didn't have any more information on the pilot's condition.
Other aircraft from the vessel still in the air were safely diverted to Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado just west of downtown San Diego.
All air operations on USS Carl Vinson have been suspended until further notice.
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Lauritzen said the cause of the crash will be investigated.
The Super Hornet was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81 based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Va. Officials said the aircraft has not been recovered from the sea.
It was the second military aircraft crash in the California area Wednesday. In the afternoon, a Marine Harrier jet crashed in flames in a residential area of Imperial but no one was hurt. The pilot safely ejected and no one on the ground was injured.
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