US forces have successfully rescued and extracted the missing crew member of an American fighter jet that was shot down over Iran following “one of the most daring search-and-rescue operations” in the country’s history, President Trump announced early Sunday.
“WE GOT HIM! My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!” Trump posted on Truth Social just after midnight.
The Air Force officer — a weapons specialist who has not yet been publicly identified — was one of two aboard an F-15E Strike Eagle shot down on Friday. Both had ejected over southwestern Iran, triggering a massive high-risk rescue mission.
“He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine,” Trump said.
The second crew member was recovered in a dangerous Saturday night operation following intense fighting near the crash site, as US forces carried out a complex operation deep inside Iranian territory, according to Fox News.
No rescuers were injured during the high-stakes operation that utilized hundreds of special forces troops, dozens of US warplanes, helicopters, and intelligence, according to the New York Times.
The airman evaded capture for up to a day in mountainous terrain, using survival training to move away from the wreckage and hide on elevated ground while signaling for rescue.
“This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, but was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow Warfighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue,” Trump added.
The airman and the rescue team that pulled him “from behind enemy lines in Iran are all safely out of Iran,” Fox reported, citing two senior US officials. They were flown to Kuwait, where the injured airman could be treated, according to the Times.
The operation unfolded amid reported airstrikes and clashes in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, where local officials said multiple people were killed or wounded, as US special operations forces and Air Force pararescue teams engaged in a fierce firefight with Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Basij fighters searching for the downed crew member.
Iranian forces had been searching for the pilot and at one point claimed he had been captured, though those assertions were never verified, with reports that local forces and even civilians had been mobilized to hunt for the airman.
Two US rescue helicopters were hit by enemy fire during the mission, injuring crew members, while an A-10 attack aircraft providing cover was also struck and later went down after the pilot safely ejected.
Both F-15E crew members are now safely recovered following the dramatic mission.
The downed F-15E weapons systems officer relied on survival training to evade capture after ejecting over Iran, moving away from the wreckage and climbing to an elevated ridge to hide while signaling for rescue, according to reporting aggregated from Fox News and accounts cited by journalists.
He activated an emergency locator beacon and later established contact with US forces via encrypted radio, a detail reported by The Aviationist.
During the evasion, Iranian authorities and local actors mobilized to find him, with merchant groups offering a roughly $60,000 reward and officials urging civilians to assist in the search.
The airman remained on the run for roughly 15 to 24 hours before being recovered, officials told Fox News.
