One of two pilots rescued after US jet shot down in Iran: Report
One U.S. pilot has been rescued, and the search for the other is underway after a U.S. fighter jet reportedly was shot down over Iran.
Iranian state broadcasters said Friday the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps air defenses targeted the jet, and U.S. military sources have confirmed that the plane was downed, according to multiple news outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
The U.S. military began searching for the jet’s two crew members on Friday, whose fate was not immediately known. The Times said officials scrambled to reach the crash site before Iran could locate any survivors.
Now, Axios reports that the U.S. military has rescued one of the pilots.
Neither the White House nor the Pentagon has confirmed that the aircraft was downed. However, Fox News is reporting that President Donald Trump was briefed on the downed jet.
If confirmed, this would be the first time Iran has brought down a U.S. aircraft since the war began in late February.
It came two days after President Donald Trump said in a primetime address that the military action was “nearing completion” and that the U.S. had destroyed Iran’s air defenses.
Iranian media circulates photos
Iranian state media published photos of what appeared to be debris from a U.S. F-15, reporting it had been shot down in Iranian air space.
The photos reportedly show the plane’s ejection seat, suggesting the pilot managed to escape before it went down.
According to The Associated Press, state media is encouraging Iranians to turn over any “enemy pilot or pilots” to the police for a reward.
This is not the first time Iran has claimed to shoot down a U.S. aircraft, but U.S. officials have dismissed all previous claims. However, it’s the first time Iranian officials have gone on air asking residents to help locate and turn over the pilot.
Local media have since circulated photos of American aircraft flying over the area, including helicopters, planes and drones, likely looking for the downed crew. The Times, citing the Iranian news agency Tasnim, said a U.S. helicopter was forced to retreat under enemy fire.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
