U.S. Warplane Crashes In Libya, Pilot Safe —Report

A U.S. warplane has crashed in a Libyan field after an apparent mechanical failure and its pilot has been rescued by rebels.

Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper reported this on its website today.

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.