U.S. F-15E Fighter Jet Shot Down Over Iran, Crew Ejects on April 3

A U.S. F-15E fighter jet was shot down over Iran the week before April 5, 2026. The pilot and weapons systems officer ejected on April 3. The pilot was rescued hours later that day. The weapons systems officer remained in hiding in the Zagros Mountains for more than 24 hours.

Iran placed a $60,000 bounty on the officer's head. The officer scaled a 7,000-foot ridge while evading capture for 36 hours with only a handgun. American drones fired missiles at Iranian forces approaching the officer's position.

The CIA disseminated false intelligence claiming the officer had already been rescued and was being driven out of Iran. U.S. forces constructed an ad-hoc landing strip south of Isfahan and landed multiple transport aircraft there.

Two MC-130J aircraft, each valued at approximately $100 million, became stuck on the strip and were destroyed in place. A U.S. helicopter conducting the rescue was struck by small-arms fire but landed safely, though several crew members were wounded.

No U.S. personnel were killed during the operation, and all commandos and the weapons systems officer returned safely. The pilot described Iranian drones moving in a jellyfish-like formation with smaller drones below larger ones and called the formation a minefield of drones.

CNN reported via the New York Post that intelligence officials questioned the pilot about the sighting after he suffered a concussion in the incident. The cause of the downing remains under investigation. The same pilot had been involved in a friendly-fire incident in Kuwait on March 2, 2026, in which Kuwaiti forces fired upon three F-15E jets.

All six crew members from that incident ejected and landed safely.