U.S. officials confirmed an American F-15E Strike Eagle was downed over Iran on April 3, and a search-and-rescue operation is ongoing for one of the jet’s two crew members. One crew member — an F-15E pilot — was recovered by U.S. forces after ejection and flown out by helicopters. The second crew member, the weapon systems officer, remains missing and U.S. aircraft and helicopters were seen flying low over central and southwestern Iran as part of the recovery effort.
U.S. sources said the helicopter that carried the rescued pilot came under small-arms fire and sustained wounded personnel but landed safely; those service members are receiving medical care. An A-10 Warthog involved in the search was damaged after taking fire; its pilot ejected over the Persian Gulf and was recovered.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for downing the jet. Iranian state media published photos showing wreckage that weapons experts said appears consistent with an F-15, though independent verification of the images is limited. Iran’s parliamentary speaker publicly mocked the U.S. amid the claims.
American defense officials and analysts described the U.S. military’s likely use of dedicated search-and-rescue forces, including Air Force Pararescuemen (PJs) trained to recover downed aircrew, and the use of aircraft and helicopters operating at low altitude for such missions. Rescued aircrew typically carry survival gear, GPS trackers, beacons and encrypted radios to aid recovery and evade capture.
Israel paused airstrikes in areas relevant to the U.S. search-and-rescue mission, an Israeli official told the Associated Press. Other countries’ forces and media reported sightings of U.S. C-130s, Black Hawks and Apache helicopters in the region. Iranian broadcasts urged civilians to attack U.S. aircraft and offered rewards for capturing U.S. pilots.
The downing, if confirmed as an IRGC action, would be the first confirmed manned U.S. aircraft shot down by Iranian forces since the war began. Earlier in the conflict, three U.S. F-15s were lost over Kuwait in a friendly-fire incident but with no casualties.
The incident unfolded amid broader escalations across the Middle East. Israel announced a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Tehran and conducted parallel attacks on Beirut. Russia and Turkey urged an immediate ceasefire. The U.N. Security Council prepared to take up a Bahrain proposal on securing the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane that has seen transit drop sharply since the war began.
The conflict’s wider toll and impacts were also reported:
– Casualties and damage: Iranian state media said strikes on the B1 bridge near Tehran killed at least eight people and wounded dozens. The Red Crescent reported a warehouse storing relief supplies in Bushehr was hit in an airstrike. Three U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon were injured after an explosion of unknown origin.
– Gulf infrastructure: Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia reported damage from Iranian missile and drone attacks to refineries, desalination and power facilities; the UAE said dozens of incoming missiles and drones were intercepted, and falling debris injured civilians.
– Energy and markets: Oil prices surged amid fears of prolonged disruption, with West Texas Intermediate jumping over 11% and Brent rising sharply. Concerns focused on the Strait of Hormuz, which typically carries a significant share of global oil shipments.
– Diplomatic and political fallout: Lawmakers were briefed on the downing. Some U.S. senators and officials criticized the administration’s war strategy and raised questions about congressional authorization for extended operations. Republican Sen. John Curtis said he would not back additional Iran war funding without a formal declaration of war or similar congressional approval; Democrats have similarly pushed for votes to restrict further military action without Congress’ consent.
– U.S. military figures: Pentagon data released during the conflict showed hundreds of service members wounded in operations against Iran, with the number of U.S. deaths reported at 13.
President Trump said he had been briefed and, in public posts, suggested reopening the Strait of Hormuz and even “taking the oil,” comments that drew criticism and heightened tensions. He also told NBC News he did not expect the jet’s downing to affect indirect talks with Iran.
Iranian officials and state media amplified the event: the IRGC asserted it had downed a U.S. aircraft, and state outlets shared images of debris. Iran’s foreign minister warned that destroying civilian structures would not force Iran to surrender and criticized U.S. rhetoric.
The U.S. and its partners continue recovery efforts while managing wider regional operations. The search and rescue mission, aviation movements and accompanying diplomatic actions were fluid and evolving; officials cautioned that reports remained subject to confirmation as the situation develops.