US F-15E shot down over Iran
Iran Apr 03: A US F-15E fighter jet has reportedly been shot down over Iran, prompting a frantic American search-and-rescue operation for its two crew members—the first such incident since the start of the war.
Iranian state media on Friday released images of a tail fin and other debris, initially claiming that a US F-35 had been struck by a new air defence system over central Iran and that the pilot was likely killed.
However, aviation experts later said the wreckage appeared to be from an F-15E belonging to the US Air Force’s 494th Squadron, based at RAF Lakenheath in the UK. It could not immediately be confirmed when and where the images were taken.
US officials familiar with the situation later confirmed, on condition of anonymity, that an F-15E had indeed been brought down, and that the Pentagon was scrambling to locate the crew. There has been no official comment from the US military so far.
Subsequent footage circulating from Iran showed a US C-130 Hercules aircraft and HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters flying at low altitude and, at one point, refuelling mid-air—fueling speculation that the crew may have ejected and survived.
US F-15E shot down over Iran
