An American fighter jet has been shot down by Iran, as reported by the Fars agency. Currently, one crew member has been rescued. Later in the evening, a second aircraft was also targeted by Iran.
The Iranian news agency Fars stated on Friday, April 3, that the Iranian military has launched a search to find the pilot of an American fighter jet, an F-15E, hit by an air defense system.
Iranian state television broadcasted images of what they claim to be the downed enemy fighter jet.
A reward has been promised for capturing the American pilots on board. “If you capture the enemy pilot or pilots alive and hand them over to the Iranian police and military forces, you will receive a generous reward,” the police said in a message read on Iranian television.
Shortly after the crash, one crew member was rescued, as reported by CBS News citing two American officials. Search missions are still ongoing, according to the channel.
Two helicopters also hit
Later in the evening, a second aircraft, an A-10 Warthog – apparently mobilized for the search for the F-15E pilot – crashed in the Persian Gulf, according to a US official speaking to the New York Times. A few minutes later, Iranian state media announced that Iran had targeted the second American aircraft.
Furthermore, two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters involved in the search operations for the downed F-15 pilots earlier today in Iran were shot at. Several of the military personnel on board were slightly injured, but all are safe, according to an anonymous US official speaking to NBC News.
