US Forces Rescue Second Crew Member from Downed F-15E in Iran

US special operations forces successfully rescued a second airman from a downed F-15E fighter jet in Iran following an intense encounter, managing to evacuate all personnel involved in the operation from the country, according to various reports.

Multiple US officials confirmed that this high-risk mission retrieved the weapons systems officer more than a day after the aircraft was shot down, concluding a complex operation behind enemy lines. The situation was described by officials as a “worst-case scenario,” prompting swift action from the US military to recover the crew members before they could be captured by Iranian forces.

A second crew member was located on Saturday, leading to the commencement of a rescue operation amidst increasing efforts from Iranian units, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), to locate the downed pilot. US air forces executed strikes to deter Iranian approaches while special operations teams deployed ground maneuvers under enemy fire.

The weapons systems officer, who ejected alongside the pilot, used Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training to avoid capture. He stayed away from the wreckage, sought higher ground for cover, and activated an emergency beacon.

Sources familiar with the details noted that there was some fighting during the rescue, but no US military personnel were reported killed. Two rescue helicopters were hit by enemy fire during the operation, which injured their crews; nonetheless, both aircraft continued to function and managed to leave Iranian territory.

Other aircraft, including an A-10 Warthog, provided support for the mission before the latter crashed in Kuwait, allowing the pilot to safely eject and be rescued.

The F-15E pilot was rescued on Thursday night, shortly after the aircraft was downed in southwestern Iran, but a search effort for the second crew member continued for over 24 hours. Both pilots established communication afterward, aiding the US military in locating and recovering the downed jet.

Reports indicated that the second crew member was rescued after enduring a “heavy firefight.” There were ongoing operations in Iranian territory during this time. Strikes and clashes were reported near Dehadasht, where the aircraft went down, with early accounts suggesting some casualties as US forces attempted the rescue.

Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have also been searching for the downed crew and enlisted civilian help in the effort. President Trump commented on the operation early Sunday, celebrating the rescue and labeling it “one of the most daring search and rescue operations in U.S. history.” He stated, “We got him!”

The president identified the rescued crew member as a colonel who had been “behind enemy lines in the dangerous mountains of Iran.” While he sustained injuries, he is now reported to be “safe.” Trump mentioned that he ordered the deployment of numerous aircraft equipped with “the world’s most lethal weapons” to ensure the mission’s success, with senior military personnel monitoring the operation in real time.

Additionally, he noted that the first pilot had been rescued prior to this, but details were withheld to avoid jeopardizing the second rescue. He reiterated the commitment that “no American combatant will be left behind,” emphasizing that the successful recovery of both crew members, without American casualties, showcased “overwhelming air superiority” over Iran.