War in Iran Escalates: Two US Military Planes Shot Down, Search Continues for Missing Pilot
Two U.S. military planes were shot down over Iran and the Gulf on Friday, marking a dramatic escalation in the nearly five-week-old conflict. One crew member was rescued, but the whereabouts of at least one other remained unknown, sparking a manhunt by Iranian forces. This incident, the first time U.S. aircraft have been downed in the war, raises new challenges for President Donald Trump, who just days prior claimed the U.S. had "beaten and completely decimated Iran."
On April 3, 2026, a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down over Iran, marking the first successful downing of a manned U.S. aircraft by Iranian forces in the ongoing conflict that began in February 2026. The incident occurred inside Iranian airspace, likely in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province or Khuzestan Province. The F-15E, a two-crew aircraft with both male personnel, was hit amid conflicting Iranian claims that initially identified it as an F-35. Photos of wreckage, including an ejection seat, circulated on social media and Iranian state media, with some outlets verifying the images as consistent with an F-15E.
One crew member was rescued by U.S. forces and is undergoing medical treatment, while an intensive search-and-rescue operation continues for the second crew member. U.S. forces launched operations deep in Iran involving C-130 aircraft, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, and possibly Apache attack helicopters flying low over affected areas. One helicopter reportedly fled after coming under fire near the border. Iranian media claimed custody of a pilot and urged civilians to report any found personnel, offering rewards for information.
President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident, which contradicted prior U.S. claims that Iranian air defenses had been crippled. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for shooting down the fighter jet. This development represents a significant escalation in the nearly five-week-old conflict and presents new challenges for the Trump administration, which had recently claimed the U.S. had "beaten and completely decimated Iran."
In a separate unrelated incident, an A-10 Warthog crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, with its pilot successfully rescued. Iranian state media has made multiple prior false claims of downing U.S. aircraft, but this incident has been confirmed by U.S. officials. The ongoing search operation continues amid heightened tensions, with U.S. combat search and rescue assets operating deep within Iranian territory to locate the missing crew member.
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