US Rescues Second Downed Airman in High-Risk Mission Over Iran, Says Trump

Washington, April 2026 : The United States has successfully rescued a second crew member from a fighter jet shot down over Iran, with President Donald Trump describing the operation as one of the most daring search-and-rescue missions in recent military history.

Announcing the development on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote, “We got him!”, confirming that the missing weapons systems officer had been located and safely evacuated after an intense and high-risk operation deep inside Iranian territory.

The incident dates back to Friday, when a F-15E Strike Eagle was brought down during a combat mission over Iran. The aircraft, which typically carries two personnel—a pilot and a weapons systems officer—went down in hostile terrain, forcing both crew members to eject. While one of them was rescued shortly after the crash, the second remained missing, triggering a large-scale and urgent recovery effort.

According to US officials and media reports, the stranded officer had been trapped in mountainous terrain behind enemy lines, with Iranian forces reportedly moving closer to the crash site. Trump stated that the airman was “being hunted down by our enemies” but is now “safe and sound,” adding that he had sustained injuries but is expected to recover fully.

The rescue mission reportedly involved dozens of aircraft and elite special operations forces. Navigating difficult terrain and a volatile security environment, US forces executed a complex operation under constant threat. Officials described the mission as “high risk,” with aircraft flying over mountainous regions while maintaining situational awareness of enemy movements on the ground.

Although the Pentagon has not disclosed detailed operational specifics, it confirmed that all personnel involved in the rescue have safely exited Iranian airspace. However, reports suggest that two US special operations aircraft were destroyed on the ground during the mission after becoming inoperable.

This marks the second successful rescue in as many days. Trump revealed that the earlier recovery of the first pilot had not been publicly disclosed at the time to avoid compromising the ongoing effort to retrieve the second crew member.

Calling the mission unprecedented, Trump said it was the first time in recent military memory that two US airmen had been rescued separately from deep within hostile territory. He also emphasised the military’s commitment, stating, “We will never leave an American warfighter behind.”

The President further claimed that the success of the operations demonstrated US “air dominance” over Iranian skies, noting that both missions were carried out without any American casualties.

The incident comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, particularly over strategic maritime routes. Trump has reportedly issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit corridor, warning of severe consequences if the demand is not met.

The downed F-15E Strike Eagle is a dual-role combat aircraft capable of conducting both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, and its crew are trained for high-risk operations in hostile environments.

The dramatic rescue underscores the intensity of the ongoing conflict and highlights the risks faced by military personnel operating in volatile regions.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)