Tokyo: A US Air Force F-15 fighter has crashed off the southern Japan island of Okinawa after the aircraft developed problems in flight and the pilot ejected.

US military officials say the crash occurred early on Tuesday. They said US and Japanese rescue crews are searching for the pilot, who is believed to have ejected safely and is in contact with the rescuers.

The F-15, flying out of Kadena Air Base, went down in the Pacific about 115km east of Okinawa, according to US Forces in Japan.

The cause was under investigation. The pilot's name has not been released.

AP