A U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed in Gunsan, North Jeolla on Monday.

The Korea Coast Guard said the incident took place near Eocheong Island off the coast of Gunsan at 8:43 a.m.

The crash is presumed to have happened during a training exercise.

The pilot was able to safely eject from the aircraft.

The jet took off from the Kunsan Air Base, a U.S. Air Force base in the city that also hosts the Korean Air Force’s 8th Fighter Wing.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]