US fighter jet crashes in Persian Gulf, crew rescued

A US Navy jet fighter has crashed into the Persian Gulf near the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, but the crew members survived the crash, the Navy has said.

An engine failure presumably caused the F/A-18F Super Hornet’s crash on Monday, The Associated Press reported.

Officials said both crew members of the fighter ejected from the jet and were rescued safely by divers.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is on a scheduled deployment in the Persian Gulf region under the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, which is based in Bahrain.

Meanwhile, the United States has said it will stage a military maneuver with its allies in the Persian Gulf waters.

The drill, dubbed the International Mine Countermeasures Exercise, is to be held from May 6 to 30.

The drill is said to be aimed at practicing minesweeping and escorting ships.