Marine Corps Jet Crashes Off the Coast of Okinawa, Pilot Rescued

— -- A U.S. Marine Corps pilot ejected safely from a Harrier jet that crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the Japanese island of Okinawa Thursday, the U.S. Pacific Command confirmed to ABC News in a statement.

The incident took place at approximately 2:00 p.m. local time near Kadena Air Base, the statement said. The aircraft involved was an AV-8 Harrier pilot.

The Air Force's 33rd Rescue Squadron, also out of Kadena Airbase, successfully recovered the pilot.

The aircraft went down in the ocean about 100 nautical miles east of Okinawa.

The cause of the incident is under investigation, the statement said.