"A US Air Force F-16CG fighter aircraft crashed at approximately 6:30 am local time today (0230 GMT) southwest of Baghdad. The aircraft was flying from a forward-deployed air base in Southwest Asia supporting operations in Iraq," Centcom said.

"The pilot ejected safely from the single-seat aircraft and was rescued at approximately 7:30 am. He was transported to the nearest facility for medical care," the statement said.

"The cause of the incident is unknown at this time and will be investigated," it added.

Centcom said earlier Thursday that a US Apache helicopter was apparently shot down by hostile fire in western Iraq but that its two crew members were not injured.

WAR.WIRE