Second US Aircraft shot down during dramatic F-15 rescue over Iran

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

US combat search and rescue efforts for the crew of a downed F-15E Strike Eagle over Iran escalated dramatically on Friday when two supporting American aircraft came under fire, according to US officials.

Two US officials told CBS News that an A-10 Warthog attack aircraft participating in the mission was hit, forcing its pilot to eject over the Persian Gulf.

The pilot was subsequently rescued. Separately, one of the helicopters involved in recovering a crew member from the original F-15E crash was struck by small arms fire, injuring crew members on board. The helicopter managed to land safely, and the injured personnel are receiving treatment.

The F-15E was shot down around 06:45 ET (11:45 BST) over southwestern Iran, likely in or near Khuzestan Province. One of its two crew members has already been rescued by US forces using two helicopters. The search continues for the second crew member.

This marks the first known instance of a US combat aircraft lost to enemy action over Iranian territory in the ongoing conflict, now in its fifth week. Iranian state media had earlier claimed responsibility for downing the jet and offered rewards for the capture of any “enemy pilots.”

The involvement of an A-10 Warthog, a rugged, low-altitude close air support aircraft famously designed to withstand significant battle damage and helicopters operating in contested airspace highlights the high-risk nature of the recovery operation.

The A-10’s pilot ejecting over the Gulf suggests the aircraft sustained critical damage while supporting efforts closer to Iranian coastal or offshore areas.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previously confirmed that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the initial downing of the F-15E.

No immediate update has been issued regarding the additional aircraft incidents.

The cascade of events, an F-15E lost deep inside Iran, followed by hits on rescue assets, underscores the persistent challenges facing US air operations despite earlier assessments that Iranian air defenses had been heavily degraded.

The F-15E Strike Eagle, a proven twin-seat strike platform, was operating in a high-threat environment where ground-based threats, including man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) and small arms, apparently remained active.

The successful extraction of one F-15E crew member and the A-10 pilot represents a measure of success under difficult conditions, but the ongoing search for the second aviator and reports of injuries among helicopter crews add urgency and complexity.