U.S. Rescues Second F-15 Crew Member from Iran After Crash, Destroys Two Transport Planes

The U.S. military conducted a rescue operation for a crew member of an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet that was shot down over Iran. President Donald Trump announced the successful rescue of the second aviator early Sunday, nearly two days after the incident.

The crash marked the first U.S. aircraft downed by Iranian fire since the U.S. and Israel initiated military actions on February 28. The first crew member was rescued on Friday, soon after the crash occurred in a remote, mountainous region of Iran.

The search and rescue efforts took place behind Iranian lines. Trump stated that the Friday rescue was performed in broad daylight, while the White House did not confirm it publicly to avoid risking the operation for the second crew member. The overnight rescue from Saturday into Sunday involved dozens of aircraft equipped with weaponry.

Throughout the operation, U.S. forces monitored the downed airman's location continuously and planned the extraction. Iran had offered a reward for information leading to the capture of the service member.

The rescued colonel sustained serious wounds but is expected to recover, according to Trump. No details were provided on the condition of the first crew member rescued on Friday. Trump described the second airman as located in treacherous mountainous terrain, with Iranian forces approaching his position during the search.

The operation underscores the risks of personnel recovery in hostile territory during ongoing conflict.

During the extraction, a technical malfunction necessitated additional aircraft to complete the mission, according to a regional intelligence official briefed on the operation who spoke anonymously. As a result, the U.S. military destroyed two transport planes that had to be left behind.

Iran's state television broadcast images of black smoke, claiming it came from a destroyed American transport plane and two helicopters. The official's account aligns with the reported destruction to prevent equipment from falling into enemy hands.

Iranian state media reported on Friday that Iranian forces downed a second U.S. aircraft, an A-10, with the plane crashing afterward. The U.S. military has not issued any statement regarding the status of that A-10 or its crew. This incident occurs amid broader U.S.-Iran tensions following the war's start on February 28, affecting U.S. and allied forces in the region.

Future U.S. operations may involve heightened vigilance for aircraft vulnerabilities and personnel safety in contested areas.