The pilot of a Hawai'i Air National Guard F-15 fighter that crashed today was coherent and talking after the accident, the Coast Guard crew that rescued the man from the water said.

"He seemed OK for having just crashed," said Coast Guard rescue swimmer Dave Burns, who hoisted the pilot out of the seas with swells up to 12 feet. "It just seemed like he was ready to get out of there. He wasn't injured. He wasn't disoriented."

The fighter crashed about 60 miles south of O'ahu about 1:37 p.m. The pilot ejected, and the Coast Guard was called at 1:45 p.m.

Burns said the pilot was in a life raft when the Coast Guard arrived. The rescue swimmer jumped into the waves, swam over to the jet pilot and made sure he was OK. The pilot was taken to the Queen's Medical Center, and was listed in good condition.

The pilot thanked the crew several times after the rescue, Burns said. Once the helicopter landed, the pilot was able to walk, he said.

Coast Guard Lt. Will Johnson, the pilot of the Coast Guard helicopter, said there was an oil sheen in the water and a smell of oil in the area around where the fighter pilot was rescued.

But Johnson said he saw no wreckage from the downed F-15.

Johnson also said that in addition to rough seas, there were strong winds in the area.

The rescue was Burns' first time saving someone in the water. "We train for this type of stuff," Burns said. "I'm just glad the guy was OK. It was a good day for both of us."