American F-15 crashes in Libya, a reminder of mission's potential costs

[The Lawspeaker]

American F-15 crashes in Libya, a reminder of mission's potential costs

Two Britain-based F-15 pilots are safe after an 'equipment malfunction' causes their fighter jet to crash in northeast Libya while conducting a night-time strike on Qaddafi-regime air defenses.


Libyans inspect the wreckage of a US F-15 fighter jet Tuesday after it crashed in an open field in the village of Bu Mariem, east of Benghazi, eastern Libya, with both crew ejecting safely.

Two American pilots were forced to eject from their F-15 fighter jet Monday night after the aircraft experienced “equipment malfunction” over northeast Libya, according to a statement released Tuesday by the US military task force in charge of Libyan operations.

The military dispatched two Marine Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft from the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge, which is currently about 100 miles off the coast of Libya, to pick up one of the downed pilots. The other ejected and “was recovered by the people of Libya,” said Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, commander of US Naval Forces in Europe and Africa. “He was treated with dignity and respect, and is now in the care of the United States.”

Both sustained only minor injuries, according to Admiral Locklear.

More can be found in the source: Christian Science Monitor (22 March 2011)

[Birka]

I am against this un-Constitutional action, but aren't F-15 quite old? They must be going on 40 plus years now.

The first one flew in 1972.