United States Fighter Jet Crashes In Libya, Crew Safe

A United States F 15 fighter jet crashed in Libya Monday night while participating in Operation Odyssey Dawn, but its two crew members survived and are back in American hands. An equipment malfunction is believed to be the cause of the crash.

An unidentified U.S. official has confirmed a pilot and a weapons officer were on board the F-15E Strike Eagle at the time of the crash. They used parachutes to eject from the aircraft and landed in different places. The weapons officer was recovered and handed over to American forces by Libyan rebels. A Marine Corps Osprey search and rescue aircraft recovered the pilot. Both sustained minor injuries.

Vince Crawley, a spokesman for the military’s Africa Command, said the crash occurred “overnight,” but he did not reveal the location. The cause of the crash is under investigation. No other details were released.

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