US pilot missing after ejecting from Marine Corps jet off Japan

A Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter crashed off the coast of Japan on Wednesday, Fox news reported quoting the Pentagon. 

The pilot reportedly ejected and a search and rescue effort is currently underway. 

The Hornet was conducting training at the time of the accident.

Wednesday's incident was only the latest involving the F/A-18, six of which have crashed this year.

During the summer, two of the jets crashed, one of the accidents resulting in the death of Marine Corps Maj. Sterling Norton, 36. Norton's mother told Fox News at the time she wished the Marines would stop flying old planes.

At one point, the head of Marine Corps aviation ordered a 24-hour pause in training operations around the fleet, except those participating in Daesh airstrikes.

The Wednesday crash was also the fourth F/A-18 mishap since October, including an incident in November when two jets collided near San Diego.

A Marine AV-8 crashed in September off Japan.

Source: MENA