Updated 10:18 a.m. ET, April 4, 2026: This story was updated with the latest available information.
An F-15 belonging to the U.S. Air Force has been taken down by Iranian forces, with search-and-rescue operations for one crew member ongoing in the Middle East.
Multiple reports initially suggested that the U.S. fighter jet, an F15E Strike Eagle, was taken out overnight on April 3. Iran has posted photos showing the jet’s alleged wreckage.
The American F-15E pilot who was rescued after his plane was downed over Iran was recovered by two U.S. military helicopters, according to CBS News, citing two U.S. officials, while the missing crew member is a weapon systems officer.
The helicopter that picked up one of the pilots was hit reportedly by small arms fire, some wounding crew members on board. The helicopter landed safely. All service members were reported to be receiving medical treatment and were transported for further medical care.
It was the first downed U.S. aircraft since the U.S. and Israel initially launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, and the first aircraft overall to go down in more than 20 years per reports. Military.com reached out to the Pentagon and White House for comment. Neither the Department of Defense nor U.S. Central Command has publicly commented on the reports that have been attributed to Iranian media and internal sources.
CENTCOM, which on Thursday posted on X about a half-dozen false claims made by Iran regarding downing “enemy” aircraft over the Strait of Hormuz, has not posted about this particular reported incident.
CENTCOM notified the House Armed Services Committee on Friday of the downing, according to CBS News, citing a congressional source.
In an email from the Pentagon obtained by The Associated Press, the military said it received notification of “an aircraft being shot down” in the Middle East, without providing more details.
Search Continues, Trump Said 'No' Impact on Negotiations
President Trump told NBC News in a phone interview after the F-15 went down that he didn't expect the situation to impact the United States' indirect negotiations with Iran.
"No, not at all," Trump told NBC News' Garrett Haake. "No, it's war."
Iranian state media published media on Friday, which included videos and images of the craft, plus one of the ejection seats.
Iranian state TV channels also called on civilians in the area where the jet was downed to search for the two reported crew members, with whoever locates them being told they would receive some kind of reward from the government, according to Axios.
Drop Site News cited an Iranian official as a source, reporting that the U.S. F-15 was struck by Iranian forces in southern Tehran Province, "with intense fire reported at the crash site." The Iranian official said the nature of the strike prevented the pilot[s] from ejecting before the aircraft crashed. The report alleged that no remains have been found.
What Search Operation May Consist Of
Jeffrey Fischer, a former U.S. Air Force colonel, told Military.com: “Praying for the crew.”
“I don't know how the aircraft went down, but I will say this: After watching the F-15E try to engage the Shahed the other day, I was concerned,” Fischer added. “That was some pretty low and pretty slow flying, which reduces any kind of reactive or defensive maneuvers in the event an aircraft is engaged by air defense.”
Another retired U.S. Air Force pilot speculated to Military.com that Reaper drones and more fighter jets are high and flying cover as part of the search.
“They seemed very low, so they must be confident that there are no air defenses active in the area beyond small arms,” he said.
He’s also heard that one crew member cannot be located, but that U.S. forces are in touch with the other, though that’s unconfirmed by the source and Military.com.
“They are probably waiting for night (now) to do any extraction if they are in contact with one or both crew,” the source added.
This story will be updated with any new information.
