Update(11:55ET): The NY Times has cited US and Israeli officials who has given confirmation that a US fighter jet was downed and that a major rescue operation is underway, with the fate of the plane’s crew unclear:
The fate of the plane’s crew was unclear, as American officials scrambled to mount a search and rescue operation before Iran could get to any survivors, said the U.S. and Israeli officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.
The situation creates a military and diplomatic challenge for the United States, as President Trump has threatened in recent days to bombard Iran “back to the Stone Ages.” Over the past 24 hours, the United States and Iran have been trading attacks on military and civilian infrastructure in the region.
The U.S. jet was an F-15E, U.S. officials said, which has a standard crew of two, and not one of the stealth fighters of more recent design. Just days ago, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran’s air defenses were so degraded that the United States was sending B-52 bombers over the country; the F-15E is much smaller, faster and more agile, making it a tougher target.
There are also unconfirmed claims that a helicopter may have been shot down as it was engaged in the search and rescue mission. Supposedly state media has also issued a bounty for the capture of any US pilot by Iranian citizens.
Reports that a pilot has been located and rescued (unconfirmed early reporting):
BREAKING: One of two crew members of a U.S. fighter jet that was shot down over Iran was located and rescued by U.S. special forces and the search for the second is ongoing, sources tell Axios. https://t.co/ZXndzj9n5I
— Axios (@axios) April 3, 2026
Below: unconfirmed but widely circulating images…
🚨UNCONFIRMED: Initial reports from Iran indicate the successful targeting of an American helicopter during search operations of downed F-15 fighter jet earlier today. pic.twitter.com/vhZvAn7ZsJ
— Clash Observer (@clashobserver) April 3, 2026
In the meantime Iran’s parliament speaker and the man who appears to be de facto running the day-to-day of the country is trolling the United States:
After defeating Iran 37 times in a row, this brilliant no-strategy war they started has now been downgraded from “regime change” to “Hey! Can anyone find our pilots? Please?🥺”
Wow. What incredible progress. Absolute geniuses.
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) April 3, 2026
Reports of people shooting at helicopters/planes with small arms from the ground:
Iranian farmers were shooting at American search and rescue helicopters with rifles in a desperate attempt to down them, but according to CNN’s guest, perhaps Iranians helped the fighter pilot because they’re “happy that he’s there.” https://t.co/JpvkB9VMpT
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) April 3, 2026
* * *
Iranian media has announced that national forces have shot down a US fighter jet, and a US search and rescue effort is is active over Iran in an effort to locate two crew.
Israeli media as well as Axios are also reporting it, with emerging photos and videos suggesting it is an F-15 fighter jet. “Iranian state media published pictures and videos that allegedly show parts of the downed plane and one of the ejection seats,” Axios writes. Photos initially released via state Fars:
BIG: Iranian state media released images of debris from a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet.
Iran initially claimed it had shot down an F-35, but the wreckage shown clearly matches an F-15E. pic.twitter.com/JMQvv0h2yo
— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 3, 2026
There are also emerging reports that Iran may have captured one of the pilots, while separately Israel’s N12 reports that the US has sent “large forces” to rescue the crew. Presumably this is an aerial mission, including spotter aircraft and helicopters – leading to potential greater exposure to ground fire.
It is possible that US Special Forces operators could also be involved in the rescue mission, but CENTCOM within the opening hours of the incident has not confirm anything.
A McDonnell-Douglas ACES II (Advanced Concept Ejection Seat) from a US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle has been found by residents in Southern Iran, the whereabouts or status of the pilot and weapons officer is currently unknown:
DropSite News, which maintains sources inside Iran, writes the following:
An Iranian official told Drop Site News that a U.S. F-15 warplane struck by Iranian forces went down over southern Tehran Province, with intense fire reported at the crash site. The official said the nature of the strike prevented the pilot[s] from ejecting before the aircraft crashed. No remains have been found.
There have been images and footage also circulating showing very low flights by potential US military spotter aircraft, likely looking for surviving crew of the F-15.
A US Air Force HC-130J “Combat King II” Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) Aircraft seen flying extremely low over the countryside of Southern Iran.
A U.S. Air Force HC-130J “Combat King II” Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) Aircraft seen flying extremely low over the countryside of Southern Iran, as the search continues for the crew of a downed American F-15E Strike Eagle. pic.twitter.com/vQL7umqmYy
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 3, 2026
Evidence of low-flying helicopters deployed as part of the recovery efforts…
Crazy, scenes from the ongoing US search operation in the Dehdasht area of the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, southwest Iran. pic.twitter.com/Leksyki4Xu
— War Flash (@WarFlash_2630) April 3, 2026
After more than a month of Trump’s Operation Epic Fury, the Pentagon has lost a slew of aircraft, including heavy refueling tankers, drones, and even three F-15s downed over Kuwait (which CENTCOM claimed was a ‘friendly fire’ incident). A stealth F-35 was also damaged, resulting in an emergency landing in a Middle East country.
Neither the US military nor the White House have immediately respond to requests for comment.
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