U.S. F-15 crashes in Libya, crew ejects

A U.S. Air Force F-15E figh

ter jet crashed overnight over rebel-held Libya, but its crew was reported to be safe after ejecting, Reuters reports:

Libyan rebels rescued the pilot after he ejected from the warplane which came down near the eastern city of Benghazi, Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on its website.

Another spokesman for the Stuttgart-based Africa Command said later that the second crewman had also been safely rescued, and that both crewmembers had suffered only minor injuries after ejecting from the aircraft.

The crash was likely caused by mechanical failure and not hostile fire, Crawley added.

The Telegraph web site showed local Libyans inspecting the charred wreckage of the plane.

(Photo top right: Libyan people look at a US Air Force F-15E fighter jet that crashed near the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi overnight Tuesday. The U.S. military said both crew were safe after ejecting, and said one pilot had been treated well by the Libyan people. It said the jet apparently crashed due to mechanical problems. Reuters photo.)