Washington, United States – Web Desk: A senior U.S. official has confirmed that an American fighter jet was shot down in Iran, with search operations currently underway to locate the missing pilot.
Speaking to The New York Times on condition of anonymity, the official identified the aircraft as an F-15E Strike Eagle, which was carrying two crew members at the time of the incident. U.S. forces have launched an immediate search-and-rescue operation, deploying helicopters and low-flying aircraft to locate the pilot who reportedly ejected before the crash.
According to U.S. sources, the pilot’s whereabouts remain unknown, despite ongoing efforts to trace their location. The official added that the operation began shortly after the aircraft went down.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed it shot down two U.S. fighter jets within 24 hours, although independent verification of the second incident remains unavailable. Iranian media outlets have also published images they claim show the wreckage of the downed aircraft.
Local Iranian reports have further suggested that the pilot may have been captured by Iranian forces, but these claims have not been confirmed by independent or U.S. sources.
The F-15E Strike Eagle is a highly advanced multi-role fighter jet capable of conducting both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, making the incident a significant development in the ongoing tensions between the two countries.
U.S. officials have not yet confirmed or denied separate reports regarding the possible loss of an F-35 aircraft.
