Chicago – April 03, 2026
A U.S. F-15E fighter jet was shot down over Iran, according to U.S. officials, leaving one crew member rescued and the second still unaccounted for. The aircraft carried two people, and American forces have launched a search-and-rescue operation for the missing crew member.
Iranian state media claimed responsibility for the shootdown and later broadcast a message offering a “valuable reward” for anyone who captures the American pilot or pilots alive.
The rescued crew member was recovered by two U.S. military helicopters, while the helicopter involved in the rescue came under small-arms fire before landing safely.
The incident marks a sharp escalation in the wider conflict and comes as U.S. officials continue trying to verify the fate of the missing aircrew. Iranian authorities have also urged local civilians to help locate the crew, intensifying concerns over the safety of the downed servicemember.
