Investigation into Leaked Information About Missing U.S. Airman

A White House official has confirmed that an investigation is currently “ongoing” to identify the source who leaked details to the media regarding the status of one of two American airmen who are missing after a fighter jet was shot down over Iran on Good Friday.

During a press conference on Monday, President Donald Trump addressed the recent rescue operation, stating that the administration is working “very diligently” to uncover the identity of the leaker, highlighting that such leaks could jeopardize the safety of the missing pilots.

“We’re going to approach the media companies that disseminated this information and say, ‘National security—hand it over or face consequences,'” Trump remarked. “So, I believe we will find the source.” He emphasized that the leak made it widely known in Iran that a pilot was in extreme danger, complicating rescue efforts.

Trump Calls Rescue Operation an ‘Easter Miracle’

According to reports from Israeli N12 news, a journalist named Amit Segal was the first to announce that one of the crew members had been successfully rescued. Meanwhile, another reporter from the same outlet, Barak Ravid, had earlier indicated that while one pilot was saved, another remained unaccounted for, citing information from an Israeli official and another insider.

Ravid had tweeted about the incident, stating, “An American fighter jet was downed by Iranian artillery fire. A search is underway for the two crew members.” Shortly after Ravid’s update, Segal posted about the ongoing search operations for the two American crew members.

Segal later mentioned on his Telegram channel that he might not have been the first to break the news, expressing uncertainty about his initial claims and emphasized the importance of protecting his sources.

Subsequent reports from various outlets, including CBS News and The Washington Post, also confirmed details about the missing airman, sourcing their information from U.S. officials. Trump has labeled the leaker as a “sick person,” insisting that the individual should face prison time.

“They compromised this mission,” Trump stated. “The leak endangered not only the missing airman but also the numerous individuals involved in the search. Now everyone is aware of our operations.”

Fox News Digital has sought commentary from CBS News, The Washington Post, Reuters, and Israel’s Channel 12, but Axios has not provided a statement at this time.