One member of the crew from the crashed US fighter jet has been successfully rescued, according to US officials.
The F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft, belonging to the US Air Force’s 494th squadron stationed at RAF Lakenheath, was shot down in southern Iran, as confirmed by US authorities to various American media sources. Iran asserted responsibility for downing the jet overnight on Friday, presenting images of debris reportedly from the plane. Specific details about the incident, such as the exact location, remain uncertain.
As per two US officials speaking to CBS News, one of the two crew members has been saved by American forces. The whereabouts of the other crew member remain undisclosed, prompting an ongoing search and rescue operation. Social media photos, corroborated by BBC News, depict a refuelling plane and two helicopters conducting a low-altitude search over Khuzestan Province in south-west Iran.
US Central Command, responsible for overseeing military activities in the Middle East, has refrained from commenting on the occurrence.
In response to inquiries from NBC News on Friday concerning how the F-15 incident impacts peace negotiations with Iran, President Donald Trump stated that it escalates tensions, emphasizing, “No, it’s war. We’re in war.” Trump opted not to discuss the ongoing efforts to locate the missing crew member, expressing dissatisfaction with media coverage due to the operation’s sensitive nature, as reported by NBC News.
A social media account allegedly linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards shared an image of an ejector seat in a desert. Aviation specialist Justin Bronk informed The Guardian that the seat resembles the ACES II type utilized in F-15Es, suggesting that at least one crew member might have safely ejected from the aircraft.
The F-15E aircraft accommodates two crew members: a pilot in the front and a Weapons Systems Officer in the rear. The identity of the rescued crew member remains undisclosed.
The governor of Iran’s southern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province emphasized the importance of capturing the crew of the downed jet alive, promising special commendations for those who achieve this, as per the semi-official ISNA news agency.
Furthermore, reports from Iranian sources indicate that traders in the region have offered a reward of 10 billion tomans (approximately £50,000) for capturing the American “intruder.”
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