In a statement posted on social media, Trump said the pilot was injured but “will be fine” and has been brought to safety. The servicemember had been stranded in rugged mountainous terrain in southern Iran.
The downed aircraft was an F-15E Strike Eagle, marking the first time a US fighter jet has been lost over Iranian territory since the conflict began in late February.
Trump said the rescue operation involved dozens of aircraft, with US forces tracking the pilot’s location around the clock while actively planning the mission. He emphasized that the operation was carried out without US casualties.
Both crew members aboard the F-15E ejected when the jet was shot down on April 3. While the front-seat pilot was rescued quickly, the weapon systems officer, who occupies the rear seat, remained stranded in Iran, prompting the launch of an urgent search-and-rescue mission.
