US Forces have rescued missing crew member of F-15E jet downed by Iran
Category: News & Politics
Via: vic-eldred • 7 months ago • 52 commentsBy: Ariel Zilber Published (New York Post)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
US forces have successfully rescued and extracted the missing crew member of an American fighter jet that was shot down over Iran following "one of the most daring search-and-rescue operations" in the country's history, President Trump announced early Sunday.
"WE GOT HIM! My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!" Trump posted on Truth Social just after midnight.
The Air Force officer — a weapons specialist who has not yet been publicly identified — was one of two aboard an F-15E Strike Eagle shot down on Friday. Both had ejected over southwestern Iran, triggering a massive high-risk rescue mission.
8President Trump announced the pilot's rescue just after midnight, declaring 'WE GOT HIM!' Alex Brandon - Pool via CNP/Shutterstock8Crowds of Iranians take to the streets after reports of gunfire in Iran. Mario Nawfal/X
The weapons officer was injured during the ejection, but was still able to walk, a US official told Axios.
"He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine," Trump said.
The crew member was recovered in a dangerous Saturday night operation following intense fighting near the crash site, as US forces carried out a complex operation deep inside Iranian territory.
No rescuers were injured during the massive, multi-domain operation involving hundreds of special operations troops, dozens of warplanes and helicopters and advanced intelligence capabilities spanning cyber and space, officials briefed on the operation told the New York Times.
"The fact that we were able to pull off both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies," Trump added in his post.
A senior military official told the outlet that the mission was one of the most challenging and complex in the history of US special operations.
8A missile explodes in Iran during a rescue mission for the missing Air Force pilot on April 4, 2026. Mario Nawfal, /X8An ejection seat found in Iran after a US Air Force F-15E jet was shot down on April 3, 2026. OSINTdefender/x
The airman evaded capture for up to a day in mountainous terrain, using survival training to move away from the wreckage and hide on elevated ground while signaling for rescue.
He had little more than a pistol as Iranian forces scoured the area and mobilized civilians to hunt him down, the Times reported.
"This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, but was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow Warfighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue," Trump added.
The airman and the rescue team safely evacuated Iran and flew to Kuwait, where the injured airman could be treated, according to the Times.
The operation unfolded amid reported airstrikes and clashes in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, where local officials said multiple people were killed or wounded, as US special operations forces and Air Force pararescue teams engaged in a fierce firefight with Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Basij fighters searching for the downed crew member.
US attack aircraft bombed and strafed Iranian convoys closing in on the airman's position, while commandos pushed toward the site —- triggering a firefight as American and Iranian forces collided.
In a dramatic final twist, two US transport planes sent to extract the team became stranded at a remote base inside Iran.
Commanders ordered them destroyed rather than risk sensitive equipment falling into enemy hands, flying in replacement aircraft to complete the escape, the Times reported.
8A US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. US Airforce/AFP via Getty Images8Debris from the F-15E jet found by Iranians on April 3, 2026. Iranian state media
Iranian forces had been searching for the pilot and at one point claimed he had been captured, though those assertions were never verified, with reports that local forces and even civilians had been mobilized to hunt for the airman.
Two US rescue helicopters were hit by enemy fire during the mission, injuring crew members, while an A-10 attack aircraft providing cover was also struck and later went down after the pilot safely ejected.
Both F-15E crew members are now safely recovered following the dramatic mission.
8A US Air Force F-15E takes off for a combat flight from a base in the Middle East during Operation Epic Fury on March 26, 2026. CENTCOM
The downed F-15E weapons systems officer relied on survival training to evade capture after ejecting over Iran, moving away from the wreckage and climbing to an elevated ridge to hide while signaling for rescue, according to reports.
He activated an emergency locator beacon and later established contact with US forces via encrypted radio, a detail reported by The Aviationist.
During the evasion, Iranian authorities and local actors mobilized to find him, with merchant groups offering a roughly $60,000 reward and officials urging civilians to assist in the search.
8Black smoke seen rising into the air at the alleged site where the aircraft were shot down. AP
The airman remained on the run for roughly 15 to 24 hours before being recovered, officials told Fox News.
"WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republican, Democrat, and everyone else, should be proud of and united around. We truly have the best, most professional, and lethal Military in the History of the World," he added.
News of the airman's rescue was quickly celebrated.
Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) hailed the operation as an "Easter Miracle" in a post on X, amplifying Trump's post on Truth Social.
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Credit the expertise of the US military.
Btw
Happy Easter
It’s amazing we can do things like this..
The US flew in, built a secret US base, landed 2 C130s ran 35 miles to a distant mountain, rescued a severely injured pilot from the mountain travelling 35 miles back by foot across open plain, while engaged in massive night time fire fight. Tried to take off in 2 c130s that got stuck in airport. Kept battling until more troops came and took them away, then blew up the C130s in air.
It is amazing.
Here is my go-to place for the details of military ops.
"Ward Carroll is the editor of Military.com . During his 20-year Navy career he served in four different F-14 squadrons and was the operations officer for Carrier Air Wing One. He was editor of Approach magazine and a contributing editor for Naval Aviation News. His writing has appeared in a wide variety of periodicals including Golf World and Hits. His three books about a Tomcat pilot -- Punk's War, Punk's Wing, and Punk's Fight -- have been widely praised for their realistic portrayals of a Naval Aviator's life. His latest novel, Militia Kill, was published by NAL in 2006."
Ward Carroll | HuffPost
BTW he is usually ahead of news reports and as a subscriber I get his reports to pop right up on my YouTube channel. On the previous show on Sat evening, he said that he heard from old connections still serving that communication had taken place between rescue teams and the missing pilot. It felt good to hear that. When I woke on Sunday morning came the official news of the rescue.
Kudos to our allies, the Israelis, doing actual ally things and participating.
just days after a france sided with russia and china to protect Iran against a motion in the UN and a French general derisively said the us should stop snorting cocaine and planning things like building an airfield in Iran. We, of course, successfully did just that. World of difference Between allies and leetches.
Why do I feel there are some leftists that were hoping this pilot was captured or killed
Seems like some want to get orange man bad for any reason that presents itself.
And Happy Easter to all
there are some leftists that were hoping this pilot was captured or killed
They will obsess over mean tweets and ignore this spectacular accomplishment. Their preferences aren’t very subtle. .
Your president is unhinged.
‘They will obsess over mean tweets and ignore this spectacular accomplishment’
Well, that didn’t take long. Look up
Well look down as well, as posted before John and you don't seem to understand what John(imho) is saying is stating the FACT, that we have an out of control, "unhinged", mental defective cic, does not mean we are not hoping for the best for America.
As we do have a not stabled GOP enabled POS potUS, yet we also have the most awesome military the world has ever known. That statement does not have to be paradoxical, when it is so accurate.
One other thing after rereading my post, we care about the sons, daughters, mothers, sisters, and brothers of the families risking life and limb, but we are concerned when entering a damn war on a Trump whim ! What was it he said, he had a feeling in his bones...?
Or possibly his family had an itch for more scratch, cause it is WRONG for a potUS to profit off the decision like a son of a Bitch, & to take our country and attack because Netanyahoo might be an Epstein snitch, cause that Epstein hoaxy witchcraft hunt, is still lingering over this grabber of Cant seem to forget there are over a thousand victims that Trump thought starting an unnecessary WAR might cause the citizens to not remember, but when the CiC isa member, of the Epstein Class Pedo Battlebullship group denier, doesn't matter what does transpire, cause the failure in chief beyond belief has definitely earned this countries ire.
But you have zero problem with a demented, hardly knew where he was, could not put two sentences together, cic.
Your biases are loud and clear.
Your characterization of Biden is a ridiculous exaggeration and pathetically you completely ignore the indisputable fact that Trump is unhinged.
How can you possibly support as PotUS someone who would pen this?:
That's you opinion. But unlike Obama, Clinton and Biden, he didn't abandon Americans.
And you claim others are not in touch with reality.
Yes, people who claim that Biden was " demented, hardly knew where he was, could not put two sentences together " are exaggerating ... taking his worst moment in the debate and pretending that this was his perpetual state as PotUS while denying the lunacy of Trump, are not dealing with reality.
Attempt to imagine any other PotUS or any other head of state writing something like this:
Do you have a point to make?
How is it possible that you still support Trump given his latest illustration that he is irrational and might engage in war crimes in Iran?
OH NO!!!!! HE SAID MEAN THINGS!!!!!! THE HORROR!!!!!!
Far better than the chickenshit "don't" we saw from the dementia patient and cackling crow.
The fact that you are not concerned that the PotUS is unhinged is sickening. It is that kind of mindset that allows this lunatic to continue.
who did Jeremy even respond to, isn't that my quote ?
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Because your posts consistently illustrate that you have created a ridiculous monster in your imagination and have labeled it ‘leftist’.
It is comical.
I suppose 'some' on the left felt might have felt that way, but their number is likely far smaller than the number of those on the right who were gleeful and giddy over the deaths during the Afghanistan withdrawal so they could bitch about Biden.
What a stupid ass comment.
Absolutely no one wished for the Afghanistan withdrawal to be a disaster, but it was due to the incompetency of Biden and gang.
In contrast, we are actually seeing left wing "news" sources claiming Iran is winning and that the rescue of the American pilot could have ended in disaster.
It is true that many leftists are hoping for the failure of the Iran war for one reason....to get Trump...and be damned about American servicemen lives.
What a fucking insane stupid ass comment.
I think he is spot on.
There is history being made here. We had a president abandon US forces in Somalia, another abandoned Americans working in Libya, Joe Biden failed to protect 13 military service men & women in Afghanistan and here we just had President Trump move mountains to rescue 1 airman behind enemy lines in Iran.
The left has been all too obvious about how they feel. Listen to James Carville.
only the most ignorant about the constitution maga scum that infest the armed forces ...
Nope. I doubt even 'some' feel that way let alone 'many'. They're simply not as deluded and out of touch with reality as Trump supporters are and they respect our military and think sending soldiers into harm's way in the first place was a HUGE fucking mistake. But that's what dumb fuck religious conservatives do best so no surprise that they are pulling this shit and starting an unprovoked war of choice and putting our soldiers in harm's way for their own stupid desire for a holy war. Fuck them and the stupid religious war-horse they rode in on.
No, I am right on the money. Just because you say otherwise does not make what you say is true
You got that part correct.
SNL made jokes about assassinating the President. Their lefty audience loved it.
that's going to be one hilarious state funeral ...
One side will be people coming to honor the POTUS, the other, nothing but the same blue haired slugs we see at the "no kings" heifer gatherings cheering the death of the POTUS.
We expect to see the lunatic fringe magas gathering tonight to cheer the death of a civilization.
one would have to be pretty stupid to even remotely think that's happening.
One would have to be really fucking stupid to think the lunatic fringe magas wouldn't be cheering and celebrating if the imbecile Trump actually did it. End times!!!
I see you prefer the talking points instead of backing up your claims that he's an "imbecile". But then again you couldn't back up your claim that "lunatic fringe magas gathering tonight to cheer the death of a civilization" so there is no surprise there.
Check his school transcripts... read the statements he puts out every night and day... listen to him speak. It's all there.
At least you were able to back up your claim about...
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Apparently, you're unable to follow my suggestion to educate yourself. More's the pity.
As per usual, you're not actually able to back up your claim, and "blue haired slugs... cheering the death of the POTUS" is just the right wingers' wet dream.
sub-human collateral damage ...
It's out there in public for the world to see.
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Great job America
Yes, this was an extremely ballsy rescue effort. The environment is complex and the threat unknown. Well done, men.
Too bad President Trump's B-movie blathering rather spoils the moment. Trump doesn't even understand when to use the "WE GOT HIM" phrase.
It only spoils it if you pay attention to it. Unfortunately there are a lot of people who hang on every word he says.
We have an excellent military. It is tragic that it is being so misused by a lunatic CiC.