The RNLI has confirmed that two people had been retrieved from the Moray Firth after two RAF Tornado jets crashed in the area.
The two were taken to hospital in Inverness, the RNLI said, where their condition is unknown.
About 15 lifeboat volunteers joined the rescue operation in three boats after reports that two jets came down about 25 miles south of Wick.
An RNLI spokesman said: "Two people have been picked up by helicopter and transferred to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness."
Aberdeen coastguard contacted the RNLI at about 1.50pm.
Boats were sent from Wick, Invergordon and Buckie towards the Beatrice oil field area, supported by helicopter from Stornoway in the Western Isles.
Crew from the Buckie boat reported that two people were taken from the sea by helicopter.
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: "We are aware of an incident in the Moray Firth area involving two Tornado GR4s from RAF Lossiemouth."
In January last year two RAF crew were rescued after their Tornado GR4 jet came down in the sea off the west coast of Scotland.
The crew, from RAF Lossiemouth, ejected from the plane before it landed in the waters at Loch Ewe, near Gairloch, Wester Ross.
RAF Lossiemouth, on the Moray Firth coast, is home to three squadrons of Tornado GR4s.
The Tornado GR4 is a two-seat attack aircraft, capable of delivering a variety of weapons and reaching a maximum altitude of 50,000ft (15,240m).