Eight people have been rescued after a United States Navy aircraft crashed into the Philippine Sea on Wednesday, according to a statement from the U.S. Navy.

One of its aircraft, a C2-A Greyhound carrying 11 crew and passengers, crashed into the ocean southeast of Okinawa, Japan, at around 2:45 p.m. local time.

In a statement, the Navy said it had rescued a number of people.

"Search and rescue operations recovered eight personnel following a C2-A Greyhound aircraft crash southeast of Okinawa at approximately 3:23 p.m. today," the Navy said.

"All personnel were transferred to USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) for medical evaluation and are in good condition at this time."

Search and rescue efforts for three personnel continue, with U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ships and aircraft on the scene, it added.