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The F-18 crashed while attempting to land on an aircraft carrier in the Celebres Sea, near the Phillipines.

The sole pilot survived by ejecting and landing in the sea, before being rescued by a helicopter crew. He is not seriously injured.

A US military spokesman said: "A pilot safely ejected and was quickly recovered by a helicopter assigned to HSC-4 aboard USS Carl Vinson while conducting routine flight operations during a transit in the Celebes Sea.