Iran Downs a U.S. Fighter Jet; One Crew Member Rescued, Search On

An American F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran on Friday, the first U.S. aircraft lost in Iranian territory since the war began Feb. 28, and a search was under way for one of its two crew members after the other was rescued, U.S. officials said.

NBC News reported, citing a U.S. official, that Iran shot down the two-seat fighter, and that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility. The Associated Press, carried by PBS News, reported that a U.S. official and an Israeli official confirmed one crew member had been rescued during the search, and that Iranian state media had named the aircraft as an F-15E. The AP noted that Iran has made several false shootdown claims during the war, and that U.S. sources had not initially confirmed the aircraft type.

The search itself drew further fire. NBC News reported that a single-seat A-10 sent to support the rescue was hit by Iranian fire and crashed in Kuwait after its pilot ejected, and that the pilot is safe. Two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters were also struck, but their crews were unharmed. The AP reported that a second U.S. Air Force combat aircraft went down in the region the same day and that it was not clear whether Iran was involved.

Iranian state media moved quickly to try to find the missing airman. NBC News said regional officials offered a reward for the crew and that an on-screen message urged the public to “shoot them if you see them.” The AP described an Iranian state-affiliated TV anchor urging residents to hand any “enemy pilot” to police. Iranian officials denied reports that the second crew member had been found or captured, NBC News reported. The AP said footage on social media showed American drones, aircraft and helicopters flying over the mountainous region where Iranian media said a pilot had bailed out.

The Pentagon offered few details. An email obtained by the AP said the military had been notified of “an aircraft being shot down.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump had been briefed. Asked by reporters whether the incident would affect any negotiations, Mr. Trump said, “No, it’s war,” NBC News reported.

The shootdown comes two days after Mr. Trump said the U.S. had “beaten and completely decimated Iran,” the AP noted, and after he told the nation Wednesday that the campaign is nearing completion. Iran has kept up attacks across the Middle East, including on Kuwait’s Mina al-Ahmadi refinery, and still holds the Strait of Hormuz, the AP reported.

NBC News noted that Iran has claimed to hit U.S. planes before without confirmation from Washington. Earlier in the war, the U.S. military reported an F-35 emergency landing on March 19 without saying Iran was responsible, and Kuwait mistakenly shot down three U.S. fighters, NBC News reported.