US special operations forces have successfully rescued the second crew member of an F-15E Strike Eagle early on Sunday, April 5, 2026, concluding a high-risk 36-hour search-and-rescue mission inside Iran.
The aircraft, which belonged to the 494th Fighter Squadron, was shot down by Iranian air defenses on Friday, April 3 during a five-week-long conflict.
The second crew member, identified as the weapons systems officer (WSO), was located and extracted after evading capture for roughly 36 hours in southwestern Iran, according to multiple agency reports.
The pilot had been rescued within hours of the crash on Friday.
A “specialised commando unit” conducted the extraction under heavy air cover. Reports indicate the rescue involved a heavy firefight as US special operators engaged Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces who were also scouring the area for the downed airman.
Both the airman and the recovery team have safely exited Iranian territory. President Trump confirmed the rescue on Truth Social, stating the officer is “safe and sound” despite sustaining some injuries.
The rescue mission was extremely dangerous, with several other US assets coming under fire:
A-10 Thunderbolt II: A “Warthog” supporting the search was struck by Iranian fire; the pilot ejected safely and was recovered in Kuwait.
Helicopters: Two HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were hit by small arms fire during the initial Friday rescue attempts, resulting in injuries to crew members on board.
Lost Equipment: US commanders reportedly destroyed two transport planes on the ground in Iran after they became disabled during the operation, preventing them from falling into Iranian hands.
This incident marks the first confirmed loss of a manned US aircraft to enemy fire during the ongoing war being waged by the United States and Israel against Iran.