Two Airmen Missing After F-15 Aircraft Goes Down

The statement gave no details on how the aircraft, known as a Strike Eagle, went down, but said an investigation was underway. The airmen were deployed from the 4th Fighter Wing based at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., the statement said.

In the statement, U.S. officials also issued a warning to Iraqis holding coalition prisoners of war.

“The Coalition expects Iraqi forces and Iraqi citizens to abide by all Geneva Conventions relating to the treatment of prisoners. Violations of these laws will bring swift and severe consequences,” it said.

The U.S. has accused Iraq of violating Geneva Convention rules on prisoners of war for broadcasting images of two U.S. pilots in custody since their Apache helicopter was downed March 24 and five soldiers from the 507th Maintenance Company captured March 23.

Earlier Tuesday, a U.S. A-10 “Warthog” low-flying fighter jet was apparently shot down by Iraqi surface-to-air fire and crashed near the airport southwest of Baghdad. The pilot ejected safely and was retrieved by coalition forces, Central Command said in a statement.

Ten U.S. servicemen and -women, including the two pilots, are listed as missing on the Pentagon’s casualties list. Ninety-six military personnel have been killed during the conflict with Iraq, while another seven are listed as prisoners of war. The British death toll stands at 30.

Iraq says thousands of civilians have been killed during the conflict, but has not released military casualty figures.