Two Marines Safely Recovered After Jet Crashes off California Coast

(NewsCore) - Search crews safely recovered two Marines from an F-18 fighter jet that went down in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast near San Diego, the US Coast Guard confirmed to NewsCore on Thursday.

The two Marines were found conscious and were flown by Coast Guard air crew to the hospital at Balboa Naval Center.

Both Marines were in stable condition, FOX News Channel reported.

A Coast Guard cutter heard the Marines yelling and using emergency lifejacket whistles during a search operation early Thursday and directed a navy helicopter to their location. Debris was also recovered.

It was not known what caused the Marine Corps jet to go down and an investigation had been launched, the Coast Guard said.

The jet went missing at about 10:30pm local time Wednesday about 70 miles (110 kilometers) south of San Diego and 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Ensenada, Mexico.

The F-18 was flying on a mission from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar with another plane when one pilot lost contact with the other.

The second pilot radioed for help and reported seeing debris in the water, the Coast Guard said.

Two Coast Guard cutters, a C-130 airplane, a 110-foot patrol boat and a navy helicopter were deployed in the search late Wednesday.