US Fighter down over Iran

[Talyn]

US Fighter Jet Downed Over Iran; 1 Crew Member Rescued, Search Ongoing​

The White House said the president was briefed as search-and-rescue efforts continue, though no formal U.S. confirmation of a downed jet has been issued.

The F-15E went down under unknown circumstances and U.S. combat search and rescue assets have been seen deep in Iran.

Photos of debris would indicate an aircraft assigned to the 494th Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath in England, based on its red band. This is one of the units that has been deployed to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations for Epic Fury. The 494th FS has also been extremely active over the CENTCOM area of responsibility for many years.

F-15E Down In Iran, Rescue Operation Ongoing (Updated)

The F-15E went down under unknown circumstances and U.S. combat search and rescue assets have been seen deep in Iran. Photos show what appear to be parts of a U.S. Air Force F-15E, amid claims and counterclaims from the US and Iran.

www.twz.com

UPDATE: 12:20 PM EST–

U.S. officials have confirmed to CBS News that one crew member from the F-15E downed over Iran has been rescued by American forces.

A search and rescue effort is ongoing for the other crew member, the same sources said.

F-15E Downed Over Iran, Search and Rescue Efforts Ongoing

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle was downed over Iran and combat search and rescue efforts are underway, people familar with matter said.

www.airandspaceforces.com

 

[Talyn]

More...

Iranian Media Posts Debris From USAF F-15E Claimed to Have Been Downed Earlier Today

Although Iranian media claimed an F-35 has been shot down, images from the crash site clearly show debris belonging to an F-15E Strike Eagle. On Apr. 3,

theaviationist.com

A video of the alleged capture of a U.S. aircrew has been debunked and appears to be instead related to last year’s clashes between India and Pakistan.

F-15E Strike Eagles from RAF Lakenheath deployed to the CENTCOM AOR (Area Of Responsibility) on Sunday Jan. 17, 2026. A total of twelve F-15E Strike Eagles, backed up by two air spares, departed from RAF Lakenheath in the UK with tanker support heading towards the Middle East.

Their arrival on station was confirmed by the U.S. Air Force on Jan. 18 with an image of a 494th Fighter Squadron Strike Eagle landing at an undisclosed Middle East base.

 

[Talyn]

Continued...

Iran shoots down U.S. F-15 fighter jet

Iran said it had shot down a United States Air Force fighter jet over its territory, and footage released by Iranian channels appears to show the wreckage of an F-15E Strike Eagle from the U.S. Air Force’s 494th Fighter Squadron.

defence-blog.com

U.S. Air Force launches F-15 rescue mission in Iran

The United States Air Force appears to have launched a combat search-and-rescue mission over Iran after the crew of a U.S. F-15 reportedly ejected following a crash. Current reporting indicates that two crew members successfully ejected, but their exact location

defence-blog.com

 

[Shibadog]

May God protect the crew and keep them out of the hands of the barbarians

 

[NMEDGE]

I have faith that Pararescue will get them back safely.

 

[Talyn]

MANPADS man-portable, thus easy to hide.

 

[shanneba]

Just saw this on X

from Nick Sortor
https://x.com/nicksortor
JUST IN:
The missing US F-15E pilot did SUCCESSFULLY make contact with the US military via encrypted radio earlier today, per N12

GREAT sign.

US Special Forces continue working to pinpoint his exact location, and have 7 hours of darkness left

Darkness is MUCH in our favor


BREAKING:
At least TWO US military Blackhawks sustained Iranian fire during their search for our downed F-15 pilots, per NBC

Thankfully, crews on BOTH of those helicopters are SAFE and out of harm’s way

Keep praying for our servicemembers

Also saw an A10 is down,

The US Air Force A-10 Warthog which crashed today TOOK FIRE and was DAMAGED during the search and rescue mission for downed F-15 pilots in Iran – CBS

The pilot is SAFE & receiving medical treatment

Current tally of US aircraft taking fire from Iran today

1x F-15E (downed)
2x Blackhawk (escaped and crew is safe, with some wounded)
1x A-10 Warthog (downed)
https://x.com/nicksortor

 

[Talyn]

Just saw this on X

from Nick Sortor
https://x.com/nicksortor
JUST IN:
The missing US F-15E pilot did SUCCESSFULLY make contact with the US military via encrypted radio earlier today, per N12

GREAT sign.

US Special Forces continue working to pinpoint his exact location, and have 7 hours of darkness left

Darkness is MUCH in our favor


BREAKING:
At least TWO US military Blackhawks sustained Iranian fire during their search for our downed F-15 pilots, per NBC

Thankfully, crews on BOTH of those helicopters are SAFE and out of harm’s way

Keep praying for our servicemembers

Also saw an A10 is down,

The US Air Force A-10 Warthog which crashed today TOOK FIRE and was DAMAGED during the search and rescue mission for downed F-15 pilots in Iran – CBS

The pilot is SAFE & receiving medical treatment

Current tally of US aircraft taking fire from Iran today

1x F-15E (downed)
2x Blackhawk (escaped and crew is safe, with some wounded)
1x A-10 Warthog (downed)
https://x.com/nicksortor

The A-10 that went down was in the Strait of Hormuz area hundreds of miles away.

An A-10 was damaged in the F-15E search area.

 

[Talyn]

 

[Talyn]

 

[Talyn]

Let's not forget that Scott O'Grady was on his own for 6 days after being downed in Bosnia, before being rescued.

Let's hope the F-15E WSO came down alive, in terrain suitable for him to hide in and difficult for the enemy, and able to contact our Forces so they can get him out.

 

[Pitdogg2]

Didn't they say he had made contact via his encrypted device?

 

[Talyn]

I don't know who this Nick Sorter character is but I don't see anything on his X site about what was posted above, on his page now. Don't know if the above info was removed.

I'm not seeing any intel about the WSO being located (yet) on the several sites I'm watching.

My .02

 

[shanneba]

Here is the X post I mentioned, it didn't have the video when I first saw it.

I don't see the Breaking post about the Blackhawks now.
It may have been updated with this

 

[HayesGreener]

I just read a report that both F15 crew members have been recovered by CSAR assets. Awaiting confirmation

 

[HayesGreener]

I just read a report that both F15 crew members have been recovered by CSAR assets. Awaiting confirmation

I can't find any confirmation from other sources and Fox is reporting they are still looking for the back seater. Seems to be some confusion between the A10 and F15 reporting

 

[Pitdogg2]

Sure sounds like they got'em.
Both Fox and CNN are reporting so.

 

[Onewolf426]

US forces locate and evacuate downed airman in Iran​

U.S. forces have located and evacuated the missing weapons systems officer who was downed over Iran, two senior US officials and multiple well placed sources in the region confirmed to Fox News.
The airman had been unaccounted for after an F-15E fighter jet was shot down, triggering an intense search-and-rescue operation in hostile territory.
Details remain limited, but reports indicate U.S. personnel reached the service member behind enemy lines in Iran and successfully extracted him, with all personnel now safely out of the country.
More details will be reported as they become available.
Fox News' Jennifer Griffin contributed to this reporting.

 

[HayesGreener]

This is great news! Those CSAR people are consumate warriors. I was assigned to AFSOC in 2002-2003 and had close affiliation with Pararescuemen and rescue aircrew. I have a relative who was a Pararescueman. Their motto is "That Others May Live" and they mean it. What a relief that all 3 downed aircrew were rescued. What stories they can tell!

 

[shanneba]

From President Trump on FB (Just after midnight ET)

FROM PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
WE GOT HIM! My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND! This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, but was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow War Fighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue. At my direction, the U.S. Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him. He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine. This miraculous Search and Rescue Operation comes in addition to a successful rescue of another brave Pilot, yesterday, which we did not confirm, because we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation.