Chicago – April 05, 2026
U.S. special forces carried out a high-risk rescue operation to recover a wounded airman after an F-15E fighter jet was shot down in Iran, officials said. The airman, an F-15 weapons officer, was rescued in a mountainous area after a complex mission involving dozens of aircraft and helicopters, according to multiple reports.
President Donald Trump said the airman was “SAFE and SOUND” after the operation, which he described as one of the most daring search-and-rescue missions in U.S. history. The pilot of the aircraft was reportedly rescued earlier, while the second crew member remained missing until the special forces extraction.
Officials said the mission faced heavy resistance from Iranian forces and took place after the jet was downed on Friday. The rescued airman was wounded but expected to recover, and was flown out of Iran for treatment, according to U.S. officials cited by CBS News.
The operation comes amid sharply heightened tensions in the region and underscores the risks of U.S. military operations near Iranian territory.
