How US Rescued Missing F-15 Crew Member From Deep Inside Iran After Two-Day Military Operation

US President Donald Trump on Sunday confirmed that a missing F-15 fighter jet crew member had been rescued after a high-risk military mission deep inside Iran, bringing an end to a tense two-day search that involved special forces, combat aircraft, and intelligence support. The crew member, who had been stranded behind enemy lines after the aircraft was shot down, has now been safely evacuated.

The incident began on Friday when Iran reportedly brought down a US two-seat F-15E Strike Eagle carrying a pilot and a weapons systems officer. While the pilot was recovered within hours, the second crew member remained unaccounted for, triggering an urgent combat search and rescue operation under intense threat conditions.

Two-Day Rescue Operation Unfolded Under Heavy Threat

According to reports, the mission stretched across two days and took place deep inside Iranian territory, within a heavily defended airspace zone marked by missile and radar threats. Al Jazeera, citing official sources, reported that hundreds of special operations troops were involved in the effort and pushed into Iranian territory to recover the missing airman.

The outlet said the mission began in darkness and continued into daylight, with the operation facing complications during execution. A firefight reportedly broke out during the rescue effort, creating a dangerous window in which US forces were able to extract the stranded officer.

The New York Times also reported that the operation involved a major military push, with US aircraft bombing and firing on Iranian convoys to stop them from closing in on the area where the airman was believed to be hiding. This helped maintain a protective corridor long enough for the rescue to be completed.

Trump Says 'We Got Him' as Rescue Is Confirmed

After the rescue was completed, Trump announced the operation in a post on Truth Social, describing it as a major success and praising the US military for carrying out the mission.

"We got him," Trump said, confirming that the missing crew member had been found and brought to safety.

In the same post, he said the operation had been launched at his direction and involved a large aerial deployment.

"At my direction, the US Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him. He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine."

Trump also revealed that the rescued officer has not yet been publicly identified, but described him as a "highly respected Colonel" and said he is now "SAFE and SOUND!"

"This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, but was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow Warfighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue," Trump said.

Trump further disclosed that the US had also rescued the other pilot earlier, but had initially withheld confirmation so as not to jeopardise the second mission.

HH-60W Helicopters, A-10 Jets and F-35s Powered the Extraction

The rescue operation, which Trump described as "miraculous," reportedly relied on a combination of specialised rescue aircraft, close air support jets, and elite combat units.

US forces are said to have deployed HH-60W 'Jolly Green II' combat search and rescue helicopters, A-10 Warthog attack jets, an HC-130 rescue tanker, F-35 stealth fighters operating at standoff range, special forces teams, and a dedicated combat search and rescue unit.

The Sikorsky HH-60W 'Jolly Green II' is being seen as one of the key assets in the mission. The helicopter, built as the US Air Force's newest dedicated combat search and rescue platform, is designed to replace the ageing HH-60G Pave Hawk fleet.

It features self-sealing fuel tanks, longer range, advanced sensors for night and poor-weather operations, a powerful hoist for fast extraction under fire, and defensive door guns for close protection during landings. Its larger cabin also allows it to carry rescue teams, paratroopers, and mission-critical equipment during combat recovery missions.

CIA Deception Tactics and Battlefield Coordination Aided Final Recovery

Reports also suggested that intelligence support played a crucial role in finding the missing weapons systems officer.

Axios, citing two sources, reported that both the pilot and the weapons systems officer were able to establish contact through communications systems after ejecting from the aircraft.

"The pilot was rescued several hours after the plane was shot down. During that rescue operation, Iran struck a US Black Hawk helicopter, wounding crew members, but it was able to fly on. It took more than a day to locate and rescue the weapons system officer," Axios reported.

Before the second extraction, the CIA reportedly launched a deception campaign inside Iran. According to Axios, a senior administration official said the agency spread information suggesting that US forces had already located the missing officer and were attempting a ground exfiltration.

This was reportedly intended to confuse Iranian forces while US intelligence assets tracked the airman, who was moving through mountainous terrain and evading locals. Once the CIA used what were described as "unique capabilities" to pinpoint his location, that information was shared with the White House, the Pentagon, and the US military.

A special forces team was then inserted near the target area on Saturday night, while A-10 Warthog jets provided close air cover. Black Hawk helicopters reportedly raced in under heavy enemy fire to complete the final extraction.

Rescue Marks Rare High-Stakes Combat Recovery Mission

Trump described the operation as unprecedented, saying the two US aviators were rescued separately from deep inside hostile territory. He framed the mission as a major demonstration of American military reach and operational coordination.

"This is the first time in military memory that two US Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory. WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND! The fact that we were able to pull off both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies. This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republican, Democrat, and everyone else, should be proud of and united around. We truly have the best, most professional, and lethal Military in the History of the World. GOD BLESS AMERICA, GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS, AND HAPPY EASTER TO ALL! (sic)" Trump wrote.

The rescue now stands out as one of the most dramatic recent US combat recovery missions, combining air power, special operations, and intelligence coordination under extreme pressure. With both crew members now out of Iran, the operation is likely to be closely examined as a rare example of a deep hostile-territory extraction carried out in real time under active threat.