US pilot rescued after crash of F-15E fighter jet in Iran

US Rescue Forces Locate Missing Pilot After 48-Hour Search

A US rescue operation has successfully located and rescued an American soldier who was missing after his F-15E fighter jet was shot down in Iran on Friday morning. The pilot, believed to be a colonel-rank weapons system officer, had been missing for approximately 48 hours.

According to reports, the US President, Donald Trump, announced that the airman had been rescued following a dramatic firefight between Iranian and US rescue forces. The incident occurred as part of an ongoing conflict in Iran, which has seen significant escalation since February 28, when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

The F-15E jet was shot down while flying over southern Iran, with Tehran claiming that it was hit by its “new advanced air defence system”. The US had initially launched a rescue mission, but one crew member was rescued hours after the crash. The second pilot remained missing until the rescue operation was successful.

US officials stated that they had tracked the location of the airman and were able to locate him in an area with difficult terrain. A Black Hawk helicopter was involved in the initial rescue, but managed to stay airborne despite being hit by Iranian forces.

Iranian authorities had called on the public to help find and capture the missing American soldier, offering a $60,000 reward for his safe return. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of US servicemen in conflict zones.

The rescue operation was successful after 48 hours, with the airman being rescued by US forces. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, which have seen significant escalation since February 28.

Source: Al Jazeera