The cause of the accident is under investigation, the military said in a statement.

The Air Force plane was taking off for a combat mission, to provide air support to troops on the ground fighting militiants, when it crashed at Balad Air Base, 50 miles north of Baghdad, it said.

The pilot of the single-seat aircraft ejected safely and was taken to be evaulated by doctors, it said.

Balad is the main air base for the U.S. military in Iraq.

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