U.S. military personnel are actively searching for a crew member of an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet that crashed over Iran, according to a U.S. official on Friday.
The aircraft was reportedly shot down by Iranian forces, prompting a swift response from the American military to locate the second aviator. This urgency was heightened after a regional governor announced a bounty for the crew’s capture.
In a related incident, a U.S. aircraft deployed to assist in the search and rescue operation came under Iranian fire shortly after the F-15E was downed. The aircraft, an A-10 Thunderbolt, commonly known as the Warthog, managed to reach Kuwaiti airspace where the pilot ejected safely before the plane crashed. The pilot is reported to be unharmed, while the A-10 is now down in Kuwait.
Two U.S. Blackhawk helicopters involved in the rescue mission also faced Iranian fire, but all personnel aboard were reported safe, according to a U.S. official.
Iranian media released images and statements from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), claiming responsibility for shooting down the F-15E. The Pentagon and White House have yet to issue comments regarding these assertions.
The governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, where searches for the missing pilot are underway, denied reports that the second crew member had been captured, as reported by Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency. Additionally, the IRGC’s regional leadership refuted claims that “the second pilot of an F-15E fighter jet has been apprehended by special airborne forces,” according to Mehr.
In a brief interview on Friday, President Donald Trump refrained from discussing details of the ongoing rescue efforts. When asked if Iran’s actions would impact negotiations aimed at ending the conflict, he stated, “No, not at all. No, it’s war.”
Trump has indicated that negotiations with Iran are ongoing to bring an end to hostilities, while Iran maintains that no direct talks are taking place.
The president did not comment on the downed fighter jet via his Truth Social account but instead referenced Iranian oil in a post: “Keep the oil, anyone?”
This incident marks a significant moment as it is reportedly the first time a U.S. aircraft has been downed within Iranian territory amid this latest conflict, challenging the perception of U.S. dominance over Iranian airspace. In recent days, U.S. bombing operations over Iran have increased.
Local officials made a public appeal on Friday for residents to assist in locating those aboard the F-15E and announced a reward for information leading to their recovery, with reports indicating a merchant representative was offering approximately $60,000 for assistance
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong