What We Know So Far About Rescue of US Airman in Iran
The United States has successfully retrieved the missing crew member of a U.S. F-15 fighter jet that was downed over southern Iran on Friday. President Donald Trump shared the news on social media on Sunday, calling it “one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations” in military history. He emphasized that the officer “is now SAFE and SOUND!” following the operation.
Two individuals were aboard the jet when it was shot down, and both managed to eject from the aircraft. One was already recovered by U.S. forces earlier in the day. Iranian authorities stated the plane was brought down by their air defense system, though specifics about the rescue remain under review. The details of how the operation unfolded are still emerging, with reports highlighting the high-stakes nature of the mission.
Operation in the Mountains
US and Iranian forces engaged in a race to locate the missing airman after the jet’s downing. A source close to the operation described it as a “huge” combat search and rescue effort in southern Iran. The BBC learned of an exchange between U.S. and Iranian troops during the operation, with the pilot possibly sustaining injuries during his initial ejection.
“Their number-one priority is to stay alive and to avoid capture,” said Jennifer Kavanagh, a military analysis expert at Defense Priorities. “They’re trained to, assuming they can move, get away from the ejection site as quickly as possible and conceal themselves for safety.”
According to officials, the airman spent over 24 hours in the mountains, armed with a handgun, evading capture. Trump noted that senior US officials monitored his location continuously during the rescue. The CIA was instrumental in tracking the individual, identifying his position in a mountain crevice and sharing it with the Pentagon. Reports suggest the agency deployed a deception strategy, falsely informing Iran that the airman had been located and was being extracted.
During the operation, the US military deployed multiple aircraft into Iran, asserting that the mission occurred without any American casualties. Iranian state media reported that troops from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shot down a US drone while searching for the missing airman. The drone crashed in the southern province of Isfahan, as per the IRGC’s public relations office, according to Fars news agency.
Earlier, Iran had expressed a desire to recover the American alive, offering a reward for assistance. The pilot of the F-15 was initially recovered in a separate operation, which involved an A-10 Warthog aircraft struck over the Gulf. That mission reportedly included a helicopter hit by small arms fire, injuring crew members but landing safely, as reported by US media.
The IRGC claimed the downing was conducted in response to a threat, citing nomadic tribes living in the region as potential witnesses. As the situation unfolds, the complexities of combat search and rescue missions—marked by their need for speed and precision—continue to shape the narrative of this high-profile operation.
