A US Air Force F-15 Strike Eagle jet crashed in Libya on Tuesday. The US military says both airmen are now "safe" Both crew members ejected - one was safely recovered while the US military went on a mission to recover the other one.

Vince Crawley, a spokesman for the Africa Command, says the crash could have been due to a mechanical failure.

"We do not believe it was shot down," Crawley said Tuesday.

It was not immediately known where or when the plane went down.

The crew members were separated because they ejected at high altitudes and ended up in different areas, Crawley said, adding that both had minor injuries.

The Air Force has said only that B-2, F-15 and F-16 fighters are participating in operations over Libya. The US''s involvement in Libya is being run by Africa Command, which is based in Stuttgart, Germany.

Africa Command launched in October 2008 after the Pentagon abandoned efforts to base the command on the continent after it hit resistance among the African nations, and instead posted about two dozen liaison officers at African embassies.