One US airman has been reportedly rescued after F‑15 downed over Iran, while high-risk search continues for second crew member amid escalating US-Iran military tensions and regional conflict fears , reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
A high‑stakes search and rescue mission is underway deep inside Iran as American forces race to locate the second crew member of a US fighter jet shot down during the ongoing conflict, after one of the two airmen was successfully recovered, US officials and multiple news organisations report.
The US Air Force’s F-15E Strike Eagle was struck by hostile fire over Iranian territory on Friday, marking the first known loss of a manned American combat aircraft in the current war that began in late February. One of the two crew members aboard the two‑seater fighter was located and rescued by US forces following the incident, but the second — identified as a weapon systems officer — remains unaccounted for, prompting urgent search efforts within hostile territory.
The rescue of the first crew member was conducted by US special operations forces, and Iranian forces have publicly encouraged civilians to assist in locating the missing airman, even offering rewards, though such claims have not been confirmed independently.
Alongside the downing of the F‑15E, a separate incident involving a US A‑10 attack aircraft has been reported. Iranian state media claimed to have struck the A‑10 in the wider Persian Gulf region; US officials and other news outlets indicate that this aircraft also exited hostile airspace and its pilot was safely rescued.
The search and rescue operation for the missing crew member has exposed other US aircraft to hostile fire. Two US helicopters engaged in the effort were reportedly hit by ground fire but were able to return safely with injured personnel, according to US media reports.
The loss of the F‑15E comes amid intense conflict between the United States, its regional allies and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). President Donald Trump and senior officials had repeatedly asserted that US forces maintained air superiority over Iran’s military, but the successful downing of the F‑15E has challenged those assertions and highlighted Iran’s continued capability to defend its airspace.
Combat search and rescue (CSAR) missions — often involving pararescue specialists, helicopters and fixed‑wing aircraft — are among the most complex and dangerous operations military forces undertake, especially deep within hostile territory. The US military maintains elite units trained specifically for these missions, and the ongoing effort reflects the urgency of locating the missing crew member before days pass.
Iranian authorities have circulated imagery and social media footage they say depicts the downed fighter, and officials in Tehran are publicly mocking the US search efforts, according to some reports.
