U.S. Military Rescues Two Pilots Of F-15 Shot Down Over Iran

• 5.04.2026, 10:47

One of the most daring search and rescue operations was carried out.

US President Donald Trump said in Truth Social that the US military has rescued the second crew member of an F-15E shot down over Iran. He said the officer was found injured but is now "safe and sound."

"We found him! Dear fellow Americans, over the last few hours, the U.S. military has conducted one of the most daring search and rescue operations in U.S. history to save one of our incredible crewmember officers, who happens to be an honorable colonel, and it is with great joy that I inform you that he is now safe and sound," the American leader said.

He said dozens of aircraft were involved in the mission and "the commander-in-chief, the secretary of defense, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and his fellow soldiers were monitoring his whereabouts around the clock."

"On my order, the U.S. military sent dozens of aircraft armed with the world's deadliest weapons to free him. He was injured, but he's going to be OK," the US president noted.

Trump also said that US forces had separately rescued another crew member of the same plane the day before, but it was not disclosed at the time so as not to jeopardize the second operation.

"This is the first time in the history of the military that two American pilots have been rescued separately, deep in enemy territory," he stressed. - "The fact that we were able to conduct both of these operations without losing a single American, or even having any wounded, just further proves that we have achieved total dominance and air superiority over the Iranian skies.