EIGHT people aboard a US Navy plane that crashed in the Pacific have been recovered in good condition and a search continues for three other missing personnel.

The navy said in a tweet that the eight were brought aboard the USS Ronald Reagan. Their C-2 Greyhound transport aircraft crashed on its way to the carrier about 90 miles north-west of Okinotorishima, a Japanese atoll.

The navy said the ship was operating in the Philippine Sea, which is east of the Philippines, when the crash occurred. The names of the crew and passengers are being withheld pending next of kin notification.

The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, the navy said.

The plane was taking part in a joint US-Japan naval exercise in waters surrounding Okinawa from November 16-26.

The 7th Fleet has had two fatal accidents in Asian waters this year, leaving 17 sailors dead and prompting the removal of eight top navy officers from their posts, including the 7th Fleet commander.

The USS John S McCain and an oil tanker collided near Singapore in August, leaving 10 US sailors dead. Seven sailors died in June when the USS Fitzgerald and a container ship collided off Japan.

The navy has concluded that the collisions were avoidable and resulted from widespread failures by the crews and commander.