The ongoing efforts to find the second crew member from the downed U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle in Iran have reached the second day. Reports indicate that enemy fire was responsible for the incident.
This aircraft belonged to the 494th Fighter Squadron and was stationed at RAF Lakenheath in the U.K. The two-person crew, comprising a pilot and a weapon systems officer, successfully ejected before the plane crashed. U.S. military sources confirmed this information.
Images of the wreckage were shared by Iranian state media, which included identifiable parts of the F-15E, further validated by U.S. officials. The aircraft was downed in the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, an area subsequently restricted by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to aid in recovery efforts.
This event marks the first instance of a manned U.S. aircraft being downed over Iranian soil since hostilities reignited on February 28. One crew member was rescued shortly after the crash by U.S. special operations forces and has since been evacuated for medical care.
Footage circulating online depicted several low-flying U.S. helicopters engaged in the search and rescue mission. During the operation, several U.S. service members sustained injuries from small arms fire linked to the rescue of the first crew member.
U.S. Air Force HH-60G “Pave Hawk” Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) Helicopters continue to fly over Southern Iran, as the search continues for the second crewmember, the Weapon Systems Officer (WSO), onboard an American F-15E Strike Eagle downed earlier today over Iran. pic.twitter.com/ibpWMw1c5b
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 3, 2026
Search operations proceeded into the afternoon and evening with U.S. teams utilizing intelligence support from Israel to cover the crash site and nearby mountainous terrains. An Israeli high-ranking official noted that the Israeli Air Force delayed scheduled strikes in the area to aid in the search efforts.
As of Saturday morning, April 4, the search continues for the fallen airman. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned that President Trump has been briefed on the situation but refrained from sharing additional specifics. Meanwhile, Pentagon and U.S. Central Command officials have not disclosed more details about the operation’s current status or resources involved.
