2-U.S. Fighter Jets Shot in Iran Territory, One Crew Member Still Missing

Just two days after President Donald Trump said, “They have no anti-aircraft aircraft equipment, their radar is 100% annihilated;” two U.S. military aircraft were hit during the incident, with one fighter jet shot down over Iranian territory while a second aircraft, damaged during operations, managed to reach safer airspace before the pilot ejected and was rescued.

As a U.S. Fighter plane crashing down over Iranian soil, it initiated a high-risk rescue mission as U.S. Forces raced to get the crew. Only one of the two crew members has so far been recovered; the search is ongoing for the second member, according to an official with knowledge of the operation, who would not be named.

The aircraft is widely believed to be a twin-seat F-15E Strike Eagle, primarily used for long-range “deep strike” missions. It’s believed the two crew members were thrown from their seats when the aircraft was hit. A quick search-and-rescue mission was immediately launched by U.S. Forces after the jet was hit.

Minutes after the aircraft went down U.S. Troops were already staging the recovery effort of the crew members. The rescue operation relied on low-flying, low-speed helicopters supported by other aircraft, as the U.S. Attempted to beat Iranian forces to the downed crew.

Rescue operations over hostile territory have a high element of danger to them. The low, slow pace required to complete such a mission makes aircraft participating vulnerable to ground fire.

At least one rescue aircraft has come under attack with one official, quoted in media reports, saying some planes involved in the rescue attempt took fire as they tried to extract the down crew members.

At the same time the search continued on the ground by Iranian forces, with state-run media urged local citizens to help track the down crew members, thereby risking their capture.

The recovery has now become a race between U.S. Forces trying to locate the missing airman, and Iranian units scouring the area. The shoot down is a critical event as it shows the dangers even U.S. Forces face with even the most technologically advanced air fleet in a country they consider hostile.

U.S. Officials continue to keep a close watch on the developing situation and news should be released as efforts to recover the airman continues.