US says rescued second airman from downed F-15 over Iran

CAIRO – 5 April 2026: The United States announced on Sunday that it had rescued a second Air Force officer after his F-15 jet was shot down over southern Iran two days earlier.

“WE GOT HIM!” US President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

He added that the pilot sustained injuries “but he will be just fine.”

The F-15 was downed on Friday. The pilot, who was rescued several hours after the incident, and a second officer ejected from the aircraft and were able to evade capture by Iranian forces in the mountains.

“This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory,” Trump said.

He called the operation to rescue the second airman “miraculous,” noting that it involved the deployment of “dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him.”