US fighter jet crashes in sea

AN AMERICAN fighter jet has crashed into the North Sea while on a training exercise off the north-east coast of England.

The US Air Force F-15C Eagle, from the 48th Fighter Wing based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, crashed at around 9.40am yesterday with one pilot on board.

The status of the pilot is not known and a search-and-rescue operation is under way.

The 48th Fighter Wing said in a statement: “The cause of the crash as well as the status of the pilot are unknown at this time.”