From the Associated Press: The U.S. military launched a rescue operation Friday after local Iranian state media said an American fighter jet went down over southwestern Iran and at least one crew member ejected.
Israel is helping the United States with the search and rescue operation, according to an Israeli military officer briefed on the information who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of a U.S. announcement.
Social media footage showed American drones, aircraft and helicopters flying over the mountainous region where the Iranian channel said at least one pilot bailed out of the fighter jet.
It would mark the first time the U.S. has lost aircraft in Iranian territory and marks a dramatic escalation in the war since it began five weeks ago. It was not clear if the jet was shot down or crashed. The number of crew on board was not immediately known.
President Donald Trump has reportedly been briefed throughout the morning on the F-15 fighter jet that went down over Iran.
new: I’m told President Trump has been briefed about the downed F-15 in Iran, and has been continually briefed about it throughout the morning
— Peter Doocy (@pdoocy) April 3, 2026
POTUS HAS BEEN BRIEFED ON THE DOWNED US F-15 IN IRAN – a Centcom statement is expected soon. H/t @pdoocy
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) April 3, 2026
Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin said in footage shared online, at least one pilot seat was seen on the ground, but no pilot was seen. She said the pilot seats will eject, suggesting that the pilot may have survived.
BREAKING: President Trump has been briefed on reports out of Iran that a U.S. F-15 fighter jet has been downed inside the country, @pdoocy has learned. | @FaulknerFocus pic.twitter.com/zVHZXxziU2
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 3, 2026
ONE PILOT RESCUED: CBS NEWS is reporting that one of the two pilots has been rescued by U.S. special forces, while the search is on for the other pilot.
Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin CONFIRMED that one of the pilots has been rescued and is SAFE, while the search continues for the other pilot.
Prominent X user Open Source Intel announced on X, “CBS, citing 2 U.S. officials familiar with the situation, reports that 1 of the 2 crew members from a downed F-15E over Iran has been rescued.”
BREAKING 🔴🔴
CBS, citing 2 U.S. officials familiar with the situation, reports that 1 of the 2 crew members from a downed F-15E over Iran has been rescued. https://t.co/9fqCCvdWGN
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 3, 2026
MORE INFO: 1 of the 2 crew members from a U.S. fighter jet shot down over Iran was located and rescued by U.S. special forces, while the search for the second remains ongoing. https://t.co/TThcy9JPLN
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 3, 2026
“Sources say the F‑15 crew split up during ejection, with search operations now racing to recover one of the crew, one has been rescued,” Open Source added.
Sources say the F‑15 crew split up during ejection, with search operations now racing to recover one of the crew, one has been rescued.
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 3, 2026
The Iranian Islamic regime has advertised a bounty to anyone who finds the American pilots, dead or alive, so the rush is on for the U.S. to locate their downed pilots before the Iranians find them.
Iranian state media is urging residents to hunt for any U.S. service member or service members from the downed fighter jet in Iran and offered a bounty for any American service members, dead or alive as a combat search and rescue mission is underway,@charliecbs reports.… pic.twitter.com/XePDiMmABn
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 3, 2026
This is a developing story… check back for updates.
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