BU MARIEM, Libya (AP) — Libyan villagers who saw the crash of a U.S. warplane say the fighter jet was spinning as it came down into a field.
The plane's body is mostly burned to ash, with only the wings and tail fins intact. U.S. officials say the two-man crew ejected and both were safe in American hands.
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| Libyans inspect the wreckage of a US F15 fighter jet after it crashed in an open field in the village of Bu Mariem, east of Benghazi, eastern Libya, Tuesday, March 22, 2011, with both crew ejecting safely. The U.S. Africa Command said both crew members were safe after what was believed to be a mechanical failure of the Air Force F-15. The aircraft, based out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, was flying out of Italy's Aviano Air Base in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn.(AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus) |
The F-15E Strike Eagle jet was conducting a mission Monday night against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's air defenses when it crashed at 2130 GMT (5:30 p.m. EDT), said Lt. Cmdr. Karin Burzynski, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Africa Command. It came down near Bu Mariem, about 24 miles (38 kilometers) east of Benghazi.
"I saw the plane spinning round and round as it came down," said Mahdi Amrani, who rushed to the scene with other villagers.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
BU MARIEM, Libya (AP) — Libyan villagers who saw the crash of a U.S. warplane say the fighter jet was spinning as it came down into a field.
The plane's body is mostly burned to ash, with only the wings and tail fins intact. U.S. officials say the two-man crew ejected and both were safe in American hands.
The F-15E Strike Eagle jet was conducting a mission Monday night against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's air defenses when it crashed at 2130 GMT (5:30 p.m. EDT), said Lt. Cmdr. Karin Burzynski, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Africa Command. It came down near Bu Mariem, about 24 miles (38 kilometers) east of Benghazi.
"I saw the plane spinning round and round as it came down," said Mahdi Amrani, who rushed to the scene with other villagers.
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