Two US marine jets missing on Iraq mission

BAGHDAD - The US military lost contact on Monday night with two Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet aircraft in Iraq, a statement said.

The military said the two planes were from the USS Carl Vinson. The status of the crew is unknown and a search effort is under way.

The military statement said there was no initial indication of hostile fire in the area at the time contact was lost.

The US military could not confirm by telephone any further details about whether the planes were single or two-seaters, could not say which squadron the aircraft were from or where the Carl Vinson was operating.

- REUTERS