A United States warplane has been shot down over Iran, marking the first time in five weeks of war that an American manned aircraft has been brought down by Iranian fire, US and Israeli officials have confirmed.
One of the two crew members has been rescued by US special forces, but a search is ongoing for the second airman, according to US media reports citing anonymous officials. The downed aircraft has been identified as an F-15E Strike Eagle, a two-seat fighter jet designed for both air-to-ground and air-to-air missions.
Iranian state media initially claimed the aircraft was an F-35 stealth fighter, but analysis of wreckage photos by experts and US media confirmed the plane was an F-15E. Forensic imagery analysts noted that the tail fin seen in the photos is consistent with that of an F-15E Strike Eagle.
Videos circulating on social media and verified by news outlets show helicopters and a C-130 aircraft, apparently American, flying low over southwestern Iran in what appears to be a search and rescue mission. The footage was geolocated to Khuzestan province near a bridge over the Karun river.
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation, according to the White House. However, the Pentagon and US Central Command have not yet issued official statements responding to the reports.
Iranian authorities have reacted sharply to the incident. The governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province said the priority is “capturing” any downed US crew “alive,” adding that anyone who succeeds in capturing or killing enemy forces will receive a special commendation. Iranian state television also announced a reward for residents who turn in downed American pilots.
The Iranian Parliament speaker, Mohammad Ghalibaf, mocked the US war effort on social media, writing: “This brilliant no-strategy war they started has now been downgraded from ‘regime change’ to ‘Hey! Can anyone find our pilots? Please?'”
The downing of the F-15E underscores that despite US assertions of air superiority, Iranian air defenses remain a threat. Just days ago, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran’s air defenses were so degraded that the US was flying B-52 bombers directly over Iranian territory.
A second US warplane, an A-10 Warthog attack aircraft, also crashed near the Strait of Hormuz around the same time, and its lone pilot was safely rescued, two US officials told The New York Times.
