Updated

The U.S. Marine Corps says one of its pilots has ejected from an F/A-18 jet in southern Japan, and search and rescue efforts are underway.

It said the aircraft was on a regular training mission at the time of the incident, which occurred Wednesday evening about 120 miles (190 kilometers) southeast of Iwakuni.

The identity of the pilot was not immediately released.

Japan's Defense Ministry said Japanese military vessels and aircraft have joined the search and rescue effort.

The Marine Corps said in a statement that the aircraft was assigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan.

It said the cause of the incident was under investigation and no further information was immediately available.