Story highlights Japanese coast guard has deployed rescue teams

The Harrier fighter jet departed the Kadena US Air Base

Tokyo (CNN) A US Marine Corps pilot ejected safely when his fighter jet crashed into the waters off the Japanese island of Okinawa, officials said.

The fighter jet, a Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier Jump Jet, departed the Kadena US Air Base and crashed 153 km (95 miles) off Hedo Cape, according to a local coast guard official.

The Japanese coast guard deployed rescue teams at 2 p.m. local time (1 a.m ET) and received a report two hours later that at least one person has been pulled from the crash site.

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The pilot ejected and was rescued by a team from the US Air Force, the Marine Expeditionary Force said in a statement.

"The cause of the incident is under investigation," the statement added.

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