US F-15E jet confirmed shot down over Iran as Tehran releases wreckage images
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- A US F-15E fighter jet was shot down over Iran, triggering a US search and rescue mission for its two crew members, marking the first such incident since the war began.
- Iranian state media initially claimed a US F-35 was hit and the pilot likely killed, but aviation experts confirmed the wreckage belonged to an F-15E from the US Air Force’s 494th squadron.
- US officials confirmed the F-15E was downed and the Pentagon is actively searching for the crew, with footage showing US helicopters conducting a combat search and rescue operation.
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guards posted images suggesting at least one crew member ejected safely, while Iranian media later claimed the pilot was captured, contradicting earlier reports of the pilot’s death.
- The US Central Command denied earlier Iranian claims of an F-35 being downed, stating all US fighter aircraft are accounted for, and noted previous losses include a friendly fire incident and damage to other US aircraft in the region.
