Navy fighter jet crashes into water approaching aircraft carrier off SoCal

A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet jet fighter "impacted the water" while approaching the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson late Wednesday night off the Southern California coast, the Navy says.

The pilot ejected from the aircraft, was recovered safely and was on the Carl Vinson in stable condition, according to the Navy.

The aircraft hasn't been recovered.

Other jets still in the air were diverted to Naval Air Station North Island, in Coronado, Calif., and all Carl Vinson air operations have been halted until further notice, the Navy says.

An investigation will be conducted to try to determine the cause of the crash.

The jet was part of Strike Fighter Squadron 81, based at the Naval Air Station in Oceana, Va.

The Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing 17 have been conducting a Joint Task Force Exercise "designed to test a strike group's ability to operate in hostile and complex environments with other U.S. and coalition forces" ahead of its next deployment, the Navy said in a statement.