Seven US military personnel were injured on Monday (Jan 24) when an F-35C Lightning II, assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, suffered a landing mishap on deck of USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during a routine flight operations in the South China Sea, U.S Navy said in a statement.

"The pilot safely ejected from the aircraft and was recovered via U.S. military helicopter. The pilot is in stable condition. There were seven total Sailors injured; three Sailors required medical evacuation to a medical treatment facility in Manila, Philippines, and four were treated by on-board medical personnel." the Navy added.

The statement added that all the personnel evacuated were assessed as being in stable condition.

The statement did not provide any information about the condition of the F-35C aircraft and whether the USS Carl Vinson sustained any physical damage.

A multirole fighter, F-35 Lightning II integrates advanced stealth technology into a highly agile, supersonic aircraft. Each F-35C is estimated to cost $94.4 million and is manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

Drilling in the South China Sea

The mishap is said to have occurred as the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is drilling in the South China Sea with the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group.

The two U.S. Navy carrier strike groups are currently drilling in the South China Sea amid repeated incursions by Chinese aircraft into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone on Sunday (Jan 23). 39 Chinese planes entered in to Taiwan’s ADIZ on Sunday.

The CSGs “will engage in joint operations to include enhanced maritime communication operations, anti-submarine warfare operations, air warfare operations, replenishments-at-sea, cross-deck flight operations and maritime interdiction operations to strengthen maritime integrated-at-sea operations and combat readiness,” the U.S. Navy said in a news release, adding that training will take place in accordance with international law in international waters.