F-16 Down in Iraq

The pilot is missing and insurgents are claiming they've shot it down. This from CENTCOM via an e-mail press release:

Description: SOUTHWEST ASIA — The interim safety investigation board convened by U.S. Central Command Air Forces has begun its efforts to gather evidence to determine what caused a United States Air Force F-16C to crash approximately 20 miles northwest of Baghdad at about 1:35 p.m. Monday.

The single-seat jet was in direct support of extensive coalition ground combat operations when it crashed in an uninhabited field.

...Ground forces secured the crash scene Monday as soon as the extensive ground combat operations in the area had ceased. The primary concerns of USCENTAF in responding to this incident have been the safety of Coalition forces and the recovery of the pilot. The pilot was not found at the crash site and his status cannot be confirmed at this time. The investigation board has collected DNA samples from the crash site and will release results upon completion of testing.

Some odd events aren't making sense, however.