US special operations forces have rescued the second crew member of a downed F-15 fighter jet inside Iran, concluding what officials describe as one of the most complex and dangerous search-and-rescue missions in recent US military history.
The operation, carried out deep inside Iranian territory, ended a tense roughly 36-hour hunt after the aircraft was shot down Friday by Iranian forces, according to US officials.
Both crew members — a pilot and a weapons systems officer — successfully ejected. The pilot was recovered within hours, while the second airman remained stranded in hostile terrain as Iranian forces closed in.
US President Donald Trump said the rescued officer was “seriously wounded” and had been located “deep inside the mountains of Iran,” describing the mission as an “extraordinary” operation rarely attempted due to the risks involved.
Race against IRGC forces
US and Iranian forces were effectively in a race to reach the downed airman, with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) deploying units and reportedly mobilizing local networks to locate him first.
According to multiple reports, US commandos conducted repeated incursions into Iranian territory, supported by heavy air cover, drones, and intelligence assets.
A deception operation coordinated by US intelligence agencies was also used to mislead Iranian forces about the airman’s whereabouts, buying time for extraction.
Airstrikes, helicopters hit
The rescue unfolded under fire. Iranian forces engaged US aircraft during the mission, with at least one Black Hawk helicopter struck, injuring personnel on board, though it remained operational.
US aircraft also carried out strikes to prevent IRGC units from reaching the extraction zone, as the window to retrieve the officer narrowed.
Additional assets reportedly included drones and special operations aviation units, highlighting the scale of the mission.
Aircraft destroyed to avoid capture
Complications emerged during the extraction phase when US transport aircraft became stranded at a remote location inside Iran.
Commanders dispatched additional aircraft to evacuate personnel, while the disabled planes were destroyed on the ground to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands — a rare but deliberate move underscoring the operation’s sensitivity.
All US personnel were ultimately evacuated safely.
Broader escalation
The incident marks a sharp escalation in direct US-Iran confrontation, with the downing of the F-15 — reportedly by Iranian air defenses — and subsequent rescue mission unfolding amid a wider regional conflict.
US officials say the rescued officer has since been transferred out of the combat zone for medical treatment, while Washington continues to monitor Iranian military activity following the operation.