U.S. pilot rescued after fighter jet downed in Iran, one missing

International, Middle East, North America

MIDDLE EAST, 3 April 2026 (NPA) — One of the two pilots aboard a U.S. Air Force F‑15E Strike Eagle shot down over Iran has been rescued by American forces, U.S. officials confirmed Friday, while an intensive search continues for the second crew member. The U.S. Army said it maintains a robust search‑and‑rescue capability in the region and is deploying all available resources to locate the missing pilot.

Earlier in the day, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for downing the jet over central Iran. Images and videos of wreckage quickly circulated on social media and were amplified by Iranian state outlets. Reports also suggested that at least one U.S. C‑130 transport aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters were seen flying low over central and southwestern Iran, believed to be part of ongoing recovery efforts.

The incident comes amid repeated assertions by President Donald Trump, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and senior military commanders that U.S. forces had established air superiority in the conflict. They argued Iran’s naval and air capabilities had been largely neutralised. “Now, in our fifth week of the campaign, it is my operational assessment that we are making undeniable progress. We don’t see their navy sailing. We don’t see their aircraft flying, and their air and missile defence systems have largely been destroyed,” CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said Thursday.

Iranian state television escalated rhetoric following the shootdown, with a local affiliate announcing a reward for anyone able to capture the surviving pilot or pilots alive and hand them over to authorities. The broadcast also carried a written message urging civilians to fire at any U.S. aircraft seen overhead, a move analysts warn could further inflame tensions and complicate rescue operations.

The downing of the F‑15E marks a significant escalation in the conflict, raising questions about the durability of U.S. air dominance and the potential for broader confrontation. With one pilot safely recovered and another still missing, the situation remains fluid.