Patriot missile may have downed missing warplane: US Central Command statement

ABOARD USS KITTY HAWK (AFP) Apr 04, 2003
A Patriot missile may have downed a US Navy fighter-bomber that disappeared over Iraq, a military news release received here early Friday said.

"A Patriot missile may have downed the US Navy F-18C Hornet which was flying a mission over Central Iraq at approximately 1130 pm Wednesday," said the release from United States Forces Central Command in Qatar.

The release said the incident is under investigation.

No further details were available, said Lieutenant Brook Dewalt, public affairs officer aboard this US Navy aircraft carrier on which the Hornet was based. He said a search and rescue mission continued for the pilot, who disappeared in the general area of Karbala while on a bombing mission.

A US Patriot was blamed for the loss of a British Tornado warplane and its two crewmen at the start of the war.

SPACE.WIRE