US rescues second crew member from downed F-15 in Iran, ending high-risk mission as Trump hails daring operation and confirms both airmen now safe, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
The United States has successfully rescued the second crew member of a fighter jet shot down over Iran, bringing to a close a high-risk military recovery operation deep inside hostile territory, according to Donald Trump.
The announcement confirms that both personnel aboard the F-15E Strike Eagle have now been recovered, following nearly two days of uncertainty over the fate of one missing airman.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the latest rescue marked “one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US history”, revealing that the second crew member — a weapons systems officer — had been located and extracted after being stranded behind enemy lines.
“We got him!” Trump wrote, adding that the serviceman had been in “treacherous” terrain and under threat before being recovered by US forces. He said the airman had sustained injuries but was expected to recover.
The F-15E, a two-seat strike aircraft, was brought down over Iranian territory earlier this week during escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran. One crew member had been rescued shortly after the incident, while the second remained missing, prompting an intensive combat search and rescue (CSAR) mission.
According to US officials and earlier reports, the search operation unfolded in hostile conditions, with American forces deploying significant air assets and coordinating efforts in real time to track and retrieve the missing airman.
Trump said the operation involved “dozens of aircraft” and was closely monitored by senior military leadership, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also indicated that the initial rescue had not been immediately disclosed in order to avoid jeopardising the second mission.
The US President framed the recovery as a demonstration of American military capability, claiming it underscored “overwhelming air dominance” despite the loss of the aircraft.
The downing of the F-15E marked a rare instance of Iran successfully targeting a US manned combat aircraft, highlighting the continued effectiveness of Tehran’s air defence systems even after weeks of sustained strikes by US and allied forces.
Iranian state media had earlier reported that the aircraft was hit over central Iran, with suggestions it crashed in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province. Authorities in Iran were said to have launched their own search efforts and even offered a financial reward for information leading to the capture of the missing crew member — claims that could not be independently verified.
