Trump Says U.S. F-15 Fighter Jet Downed in Iran by Shoulder-Fired Missile; Two Airmen Rescued

By Gordon Lubold, Dan De Luce, Courtney Kube, Daniel Arkin and Mosheh Gains

April 6, 2026, 9:15 PM EDT

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump stated that an American F-15 fighter jet was downed in Iran by a shoulder-fired missile, resulting in the rescue of two airmen. The incident occurred amid a six-week U.S.-led military campaign against Iran that began on February 28, 2026, with coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, military infrastructure, and leadership targets.

Trump and senior administration officials have claimed that the campaign has significantly damaged Iran's military, including its navy and air force, as well as missile sites, launchers, and drone production facilities. U.S. Central Command stated on Monday that it had struck more than 13,000 targets and damaged or destroyed more than 150 Iranian vessels during the operation. These figures have not been independently verified by other sources.

The downing of the F-15 highlights challenges posed by asymmetric warfare, in which small groups or individuals can target U.S. forces despite degradation of Iran's conventional capabilities. Trump addressed this during a White House briefing when asked about the Strait of Hormuz, which Iranian forces have restricted. "We can knock them for a loop, but to close the strait, all you need is one terrorist," Trump said.

At a White House news conference, Trump provided details about the rescue operations for the pilot and the weapons systems officer, referred to as the "back-seater." According to Trump, the pilot was rescued shortly after the crash. The CIA later identified the location of the second airman, who was in mountainous terrain. Trump said the airman had climbed cliff faces while injured, treated his own wounds, and contacted U.S. forces to share his position.

U.S. forces deployed more than 20 military aircraft, including some at low altitudes, to conduct the search-and-rescue mission after the airman activated a location beacon during his nearly 48-hour period on the ground, according to Trump and other officials. Iranian military forces, numbering in the thousands, were also deployed to the area to search for the airman.

As U.S. special operations forces approached, the CIA conducted a deception operation to mislead Iranian forces into believing the airman had already been extracted, CIA Director John Ratcliffe said on Monday. "It was critical that we locate the downed aviator as quickly as possible while at the same time keeping our enemies misdirected," Ratcliffe stated. He described the search-and-rescue effort as comparable to finding a single grain of sand in a desert.


*Mark Schiefelbein / AP*

Deception operations, sometimes involving coordination with local opposition groups, are standard procedures used by the CIA and U.S. military in rescues of personnel in hostile territory. Airmen are trained to activate location beacons selectively to avoid detection by adversaries. Ratcliffe noted that the airman remained undetected by Iranian forces but was located by the CIA.

The information was relayed to U.S. military units and the White House. The operation encountered a delay when two aircraft became stuck in sand, requiring a backup plan with replacement aircraft. Those two aircraft, along with two others, were subsequently destroyed by U.S. forces before departure from Iran, according to Trump and officials.

The rescue underscores risks associated with ground operations in Iran. The U.S. military has prepared options for Trump that could involve ground troops, such as retrieving Iran's highly enriched uranium, securing oil facilities, or clearing the Strait of Hormuz by deploying forces to Iranian ports or nearby islands in the Persian Gulf, according to NBC News reporting.

Such missions would carry greater risks and durations compared to the two-day airman rescue. Analysts have noted that operations in the Strait of Hormuz or at Kharg Island oil terminal could require holding positions for days or weeks, exposing troops to Iranian cruise missiles, drones, or maritime attacks. Securing or neutralizing approximately 1,000 pounds of enriched uranium would likely involve U.S. forces maintaining a perimeter inside Iran for several days, per two former senior officers.

Trump did not specify an end date for the conflict or future campaign plans on Monday, though he issued an ultimatum to Iran, giving the regime until 8 p.m. Tuesday to accept a deal. He warned of bombing Iran back to the "Stone Ages" if no agreement is reached to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "After that, they have no bridges, they have no power plants, Stone Ages, yeah," Trump said. Targeting civilian infrastructure could violate international humanitarian law, which prohibits such actions as potential war crimes.

Iran has demanded a permanent cessation of hostilities, rejecting proposals for a temporary ceasefire conveyed through intermediaries, according to Iranian statements.

In addition to the F-15 incident, Iranian forces reportedly shot down an A-10 Warthog aircraft last week and have targeted multiple U.S. helicopters and more than 15 Reaper drones, according to U.S. and Iranian reports. These events indicate that Iran's missiles, drones, and air defenses remain operational to some extent, despite Trump's assertion that Iran lacked anti-aircraft equipment.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised the administration's coordination during the rescue, noting a national security call that stayed active for nearly two days. "For 45 hours and 56 minutes, we held that call open for coordination," Hegseth told reporters. "Our mission was unblinking. The meeting never stopped. The planning never ceased."

The ongoing campaign continues to evolve, with U.S. officials weighing next steps amid persistent Iranian resistance and restrictions on key maritime routes.

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