rki.news | Source: Anadolu Agency
The United States successfully rescued the second crew member of a downed F-15 fighter jet in Iran, concluding a tense 36-hour rescue mission in the country’s southwest region, according to reports from Axios citing US officials.
The operation involved US special operations forces who carried out a complex rescue mission after the aircraft was shot down over Iranian territory. Both crew members — the pilot and the weapons systems officer — had ejected safely and were able to communicate with US forces after landing.
The pilot was rescued within hours of the incident, while the second crew member remained missing for more than a day before being located and extracted by an elite US commando team supported by air cover. Reports indicated that forces from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were also moving toward the area, prompting US aircraft to carry out strikes to prevent interference with the rescue operation.
According to The New York Times, two US transport aircraft used for evacuation became stranded at a remote base in Iran during the mission. Additional aircraft were later dispatched to evacuate personnel, and the disabled planes were destroyed to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands.
US President Donald Trump and senior officials reportedly monitored the entire rescue mission from the White House Situation Room.
Despite an Iranian strike damaging a US Black Hawk helicopter during the earlier rescue phase, the aircraft remained operational and the mission was completed successfully, with all American personnel safely evacuated.