US Navy plane crashes in Philippine Sea

MANILA, Philippines — A plane of the US Navy on board aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan crashed into the Philippine Sea while conducting routine operations yesterday.

The US Navy said mechanical issues forced the pilots to eject from Carrier Air Wing 5 F/A-18.

The pilots were rescued and brought to the Ronald Reagan for medical evaluation.

The aircraft is part of the US 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Cmdr. Jonathan Zata, naval public affairs office chief of the Philippine Navy, said he has yet to receive official word on the crash. “Normally they operate outside our territorial zone... they do not give their specific location,” he said.

Zata said they have not also received any request for assistance from the US Navy.