US F-15E fighter jet downed by Iran, rescue operations underway

The loss of an American fighter jet over Iran would appear to be the first manned American aircraft downed over Iran during Operation Epic Fury.

By Michael Marrow and Ashley Roque on April 03, 2026 11:36 am Share

WASHINGTON — An American F-15E fighter jet has been downed by Iranian forces while operating over the country, a US official confirmed to Breaking Defense.

A search and rescue operation for its crew is underway, the official said. Videos posted online show a C-130 and two Black Hawk helicopters flying low in what observers say appears to be southwestern Iran, whose operations would seem consistent with a search-and-rescue mission.

An F-15E flies with two crew, a pilot and weapon systems officer. Unconfirmed photos circulating on social media appeared to show the wreckage of a US Air Force F-15 aircraft, and Iranian media has claimed the government took the jet down and that a search is underway for the pilots.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) did not immediately respond to Breaking Defense’s request for comment.

The aircraft’s loss would be the first time a manned American jet was known to be downed over enemy territory during the war in Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury by the Pentagon. The US has lost 16 unmanned MQ-9 Reaper drones over the course of the conflict, CBS reported.

The jet’s downing comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday claimed that an “increase in air superiority” has permitted large and relatively vulnerable B-52 Stratofortress bombers to conduct its first “overland missions” into Iran during the war.

The fighter jet downed over Iran would be the fourth F-15E lost in Epic Fury. On March 1, three F-15Es were shot down over Kuwait in what CENTCOM called an “apparent friendly fire incident.” All six crew members involved in that incident ejected and were safely recovered.

A US Air Force F-35 stealth fighter was also reportedly struck by Iranian ground fire March 19, but the pilot was able to safely land the aircraft despite shrapnel wounds. CENTCOM has not publicly confirmed that incident. 

Two American KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling aircraft were also separately involved in a March 12 accident over Iraq. One tanker crashed, killing six crew members aboard. The other aircraft landed safely. CENTCOM said that the event was not due to enemy fire. 

In a nationwide address April 1, President Donald Trump asserted the US was “very close” to achieving its military objectives in Iran, while pledging to “hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks.” He did not articulate a clear timeline for the conflict to end.

“We are going to finish the job, and we’re going to finish it very fast,” he said.