A second US military aircraft is believed to have been hit by Iranian fire, leading to the pilot safely ejecting before the plane crashed in Kuwait.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II, commonly known as the Warthog, went down near the Persian Gulf in a similar timeframe to an F-15 being shot down over Iran on Friday, according to two US officials. The single-seat aircraft’s pilot was rescued by US forces, although details surrounding the crash remain undisclosed.
Prior to this incident, US officials confirmed that an F-15E Strike Eagle from the Air Force’s 494th squadron based at RAF Lakenheath was shot down over southern Iran. Iran claimed responsibility for downing the aircraft, sharing images of debris from the jet through state media.
An official from NBC News reported that the A-10 was hit by Iranian fire while aiding in the search and rescue mission for the downed F-15. The A-10 managed to reach Kuwaiti airspace, where the pilot ejected safely before the aircraft went down.
According to Iranian state TV, an American A-10 aircraft was targeted by Iran’s Army Air Defence Force systems and crashed in the Persian Gulf in southern Iran.
Two US officials informed CBS News that one of the two crew members from the F-15 has been rescued, while the status of the other crew member remains unknown. A search and rescue operation is ongoing, as evidenced by a video circulating on social media showing aircraft over Khuzestan Province in south-west Iran.
The governor of Iran’s southern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province emphasized the importance of capturing the crew of the downed jet alive, offering commendations for those who achieve this. Additionally, reports from Iranian sources indicate that traders in the region have offered a reward for capturing the American “intruder.”
US Central Command, responsible for military operations in the Middle East, has not yet issued a statement regarding the incidents involving the two US Air Force planes.
