U.S. F-15E crashes in Libya, pilot safe

A United States F-15E Eagle fighter crashed in a Libyan field after an apparent mechanical failure and its pilot has been rescued by rebels, Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on its website on Tuesday.

The plane is an F-15E Eagle, the Telegraph added in a report from a correspondent on the ground in Libya.

"Just found a crashed US warplane in a field. believe a mechanical failure brought it down," Telegraph correspondent Rob Crilly said on the Twitter micro-blogging site.

"Came down late last night. Crew believed safe," Crilly added in subsequent tweets.

Western forces carried out a third night of air raids overnight aimed at protecting civilians from forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The pilot was reportedly rescued by rebels on the ground after the crash near Benghazi and is alive and well. The United States and allies France and Britain have been bombarding Libya and its armed forces with missile fire in the past four days as they seek to enforce a last minute United Nations no-fly zone resolution.

The Boeing manufactured supersonic aircraft has a 12,000kg arsenal including air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. It has been in US military service since 1988.

Source: Mar 22, 2011- LONDON (Reuters)

(22.03.2011)