South Korean fighter jet crashes during training exercise, pilot safe

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - A fighter jet crashed in southern South Korea during a training exercise, but the pilot had ejected and was safe, Defense Ministry officials said Tuesday.

The KF-16 plane possibly crashed into waters off the country's west coast, a ministry official said.

Another official said the pilot had ejected safely before the crash and was being transferred to a hospital for treatment.

The injuries were not life-threatening, the official said.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity, citing ministry protocol. It was not immediately clear what caused the crash.

South Korea plans to replace its outdated fighters with U.S.-made F-15K jets. A total of 40 of the planes are to be delivered by 2008.-AP