- By Priyanka Koul
- Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:03 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
US President Donald Trump on Sunday confirmed that a second US crew member from a downed F-15E Strike Eagle in Iran has been successfully recovered, calling it one of the most daring search and rescue missions in American military history.
"We got him," Trump said as he announced the rescue of the missing F-15 fighter jet crew member. The incident follows Iran’s downing of a US two-seat F-15E Strike Eagle on Friday, which had a pilot and a weapons systems officer on board. While the weapons systems officer was rescued promptly, the pilot remained missing.
In a detailed post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump described how the pilot was recovered two days after going missing.
"We got him! My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now safe and sound!."
Earlier, a report by Al Jazeera had stated that the missing crew member unaccounted for nearly two days after the aircraft was brought down had been located and rescued after intense fighting in hostile terrain.
While one crew member had been rescued shortly after the incident, the second remained missing, triggering a complex and high-stakes recovery effort.
How US Rescued Pilot From Iran ?
The operation began in darkness and concluded in daylight, Al Jazeera reported, noting that it "didn't go entirely as planned." A firefight reportedly broke out, during which the US military was able to extract the airman.
Trump also revealed that another pilot had been rescued on Saturday. It had not been previously confirmed, he said, because US officials "did not want to jeopardise the second rescue operation."
"At my direction, the US Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him. He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine. This miraculous Search and Rescue Operation comes in addition to a successful rescue of another brave Pilot, yesterday, which we did not confirm, because we did not want to jeopardise our second rescue operation," he added.
"This is the first time in military memory that two US Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory. WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND! The fact that we were able to pull off both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies. This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republican, Democrat, and everyone else, should be proud of and united around. We truly have the best, most professional, and lethal Military in the History of the World. GOD BLESS AMERICA, GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS, AND HAPPY EASTER TO ALL! (sic)" Trump wrote.
"This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, but was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow Warfighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue," Trump added.
Meanwhile, The rescued crew member, who has not been identified, is a "highly respected Colonel," Trump said, adding that he is now "SAFE and SOUND!"
Where Was He Captured?
According to Iranian media reports, the F-15E aircraft was targeted over central Iran and is believed to have gone down in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province.
Iranian authorities have not commented on the rescue of the second US airman. Meanwhile, Tehran had reportedly offered a reward of about 66,000 dollars to anyone who captured the missing airman alive, according to Iranian media.