US Fighter Jet Shot Down Over Iran, Rescue Operation Underway

Washington, April 2026 : A US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran, prompting an intense combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) operation, with one crew member rescued and another still missing, according to reports.

The aircraft, a two-seat multirole fighter, was carrying a pilot and a weapons systems officer when it went down. Both crew members ejected safely before the crash. Rescue teams managed to locate one of them alive, while efforts are ongoing to find the second crew member, whose condition remains unknown.

In a separate incident on the same day, a US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft was also lost in the region. However, in that case, the pilot was successfully rescued without injury, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Initial indications from US officials suggest that both aircraft may have been struck by Iranian fire. Iran has claimed responsibility for downing an American fighter jet and has circulated images allegedly showing the wreckage of an F-15E. However, the authenticity of these images has not been independently verified.

US Central Command and the Pentagon have not issued an official statement regarding the incidents so far.

Videos circulating on social media, reportedly from southwestern Iran, show US aircraft flying at low altitudes, likely involved in ongoing rescue missions. The US Air Force has deployed specialised CSAR units in the region, including HC-130J Combat King II aircraft and HH-60 rescue helicopters.

According to reports, at least one rescue helicopter involved in the operation came under Iranian fire but was still able to land safely, highlighting the high-risk environment in which the rescue efforts are being conducted.

These incidents mark the first confirmed combat loss of US crewed aircraft in the ongoing conflict. Earlier, on March 19, a US Air Force F-35 had been damaged during a mission over Iran, with the pilot sustaining minor shrapnel injuries before managing an emergency landing.

In another recent mishap, three F-15E jets were reportedly downed due to friendly fire over Kuwait on March 2, though all six crew members ejected safely. Additionally, a KC-135 tanker crashed in western Iraq following a midair collision, resulting in the deaths of six airmen.

Iranian state media described the downing of the F-15E as a significant development, claiming it to be the first time Tehran has successfully shot down a US fighter jet in the current conflict. Reports also suggest Iranian forces are searching for the missing American crew member in the crash area.

Despite these setbacks, US officials maintain that American forces continue to hold air superiority across large parts of Iran and have carried out over 12,300 strikes on strategic targets in recent weeks.