A second U.S. crew member who went missing when an F-15E fighter jet was shot down over a remote area of Iran was rescued by U.S. forces early Sunday morning.
US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that the missing American crew member is SAFE and SOUND” after being rescued by US military forces.
“WE GOT HIM!” President Trump confirmed in a Truth Social post. “My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!”
The president said that the rescued officer had “sustained injuries, but he will be just fine.”
For the rescue operation, the president said that “at my direction, the U.S. Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him.”
U.S. officials had previously told CBS News the jet was carrying a two-person crew when it was downed by Iranian forces on Friday.
Iranian Revolutionary Guards took credit for the strike, alleging the jet was brought down in southwestern Iran Friday morning. Photos of debris that Iranian media said showed the wreckage of the downed U.S. fighter jet appeared consistent with an American F-15, two weapons experts told CBS News.
The pilot of the F-15E had safely ejected and was rescued by two military helicopters, U.S. officials earlier said, but the second crew member, a weapons system officer, had remained missing.
During Friday’s recovery efforts, a U.S. chopper carrying the rescued pilot was struck by small arms fire, wounding crew members on board, U.S. officials said, but the helicopter landed safely.
An A-10 Warthog that was part of Friday’s search mission took fire and was damaged.
The Warthog’s pilot ejected over the Persian Gulf and was successfully recovered, U.S. officials said.
