U.S. Search and Rescue Underway for Second Crew Member After F-15E Goes Down in Iran

WASHINGTON — A U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle crashed in Iranian territory on Friday, sparking a high-stakes search-and-rescue operation. While one crew member has been successfully recovered by specialized U.S. forces, the status of the second remains unknown.

Multiple major U.S. news outlets, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, confirmed the aircraft type as an F-15E, which typically carries a pilot and a weapons-systems officer. The reports directly contradict claims from Iranian state media, which initially suggested the downed craft was an F-35 stealth fighter. Analysis of wreckage footage aired in Iran supported the identification of the F-15 airframe.

Rescue Operations and Status

According to Axios and CBS News, U.S. special operations teams successfully extracted one of the two crew members shortly after the crash.

• Status of Crew: One rescued; one remains missing.

• Search Effort: Specialized units are currently operating on the ground and in the air near the crash site.

• Visual Confirmation: Social media and Iranian outlets have circulated footage showing U.S. helicopters performing low-altitude maneuvers over the presumed wreckage.

Official Response

While President Donald Trump has been briefed on the incident, the White House and the Pentagon have not yet issued an official on-the-record statement. This event marks the first confirmed loss of a U.S. manned fighter jet inside Iranian borders since the commencement of current hostilities.

The loss of the aircraft and the ongoing rescue mission represent a significant escalation in the theater, as U.S. assets continue to scan the region for the remaining missing personnel.