Search Underway for Marine Pilot Who Ejected Near Japan

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Lance Cpl. Samantha K. Torres(TOKYO) — A search-and-rescue operation is underway for a U.S. Marine Corps pilot who ejected from his F/A-18 aircraft Wednesday off the coast of Japan.

The pilot ejected at about 4:40 a.m. ET, 120 miles southeast of Iwakuni, Japan, according to a news release from Marine Corps Base Camp Butler in Okinawa.

The F/A-18 was assigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa and was conducting “regularly scheduled training at the time of the mishap,” Marine Corps Base Camp Butler said.

The cause of the incident is under investigation, and the Marine Corps did not provide further information.

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