CCTV news says a People's Liberation Army naval fighter jet crashed on Saturday during a training exercise in Hainan Province, with the pilot safely ejecting.

The jet from the Southern Theatre Command went down at about 1.30 pm and crashed in an open area in Lingao County, the navy said in a statement on social media.

It said the pilot parachuted to safety and there was no collateral damage on the ground. The command said an investigation is taking place.