Rescue ongoing for downed F-15E crew member still inside Iran, official says
April 5, 2026
Middle East Eye
Rescue ongoing for downed F-15E crew member still inside Iran, official says A US government official said the rescue operation for a crew member of a downed F-15E fighter jet is still underway, despite the individual being located, Al Jazeera reported. The crew member has been confirmed located but is “not safe yet,” the official told Al Jazeera, adding that extraction from Iran has not been completed.
“There was a rescue effort, but there was a fierce firefight,” the official said, noting the air force member remains inside Iranian territory and could still face danger along with the rescue team. The development follows the downing of the US jet over Iran’s Khuzestan province, where ongoing hostilities have complicated recovery efforts.
Middle East Eye
Coverage and analysis from Qatar. All insights are generated by our AI narrative analysis engine.