Coalition Plane Goes Down Near Baghdad 
April 8, 2003 06:12 AM EDT 

A U.S. A-10 Warthog jet drops flares as it flies
low over the Tigris River and downtown Baghdad
Tuesday, April 8, 2003. (AP Photo/Ali Heider)		 CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar - A coalition A-10 "warthog" warplane went down near Baghdad early Tuesday. The pilot ejected safely and was recovered by coalition ground forces near the airport, the U.S. Central Command said. 

The pilot was reported to be in good condition. 

Lt. Mark Kitchens at U.S. Central Command in Doha, Qatar, said recovery operations to retrieve the aircraft were under way. 

"We're doing our best to determine the status of the aircraft, it's condition and so on," he said. 

Asked whether it was shot down, Kitchens said, "At this time I think it's too early to speculate. We're obviously looking at that." 

No further information was available.