Nineteen-year-old Jessica Lynch was taken in an ambulance to nearby Landstuhl military hospital, several kilometers (miles) from the Ramstein base, spokeswoman Darlene Cowsirt told AFP. After receiving treatment -- she reportedly has multiple gunshot wounds and broken limbs -- she will later return to the United States and her home in the state of West Virginia.

She was the only patient on board the C17 transporter which touched down in Ramstein coming from Kuwait, and was taken on a stretcher from the plane. Members of her family are expected in Landstuhl on Thursday.

Lynch, a soldier with the 507th maintenance company, had been missing since March 23 and was listed as missing in action.

She was freed overnight Tuesday by special forces who stormed an Iraqi hospital. Her liberation led to widespread celebrations in the United States, particularly in her home town of Palestine, West Virginia.

SPACE.WIRE