U.S SHOOTS DOWN Iranian Jet? F-4 Phantom II EXPLODES in Crash as Trump Issues 10-Day War Ultimatum

Iran confirmed that Mehdi Firoozmand was killed in a nighttime training accident on 19 Feb 2026 when a two-seat F-4 Phantom II crashed in Hamadan, Iran, after taking off from Shahid Nojeh Air Base. Iranian officials said the flight was a routine training sortie and there was no sign of hostile action, though unconfirmed reports point to a possible technical malfunction. Firoozmand, an instructor pilot with the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, ejected but later died from injuries, while the rear-seat crew member survived and was hospitalized. State outlets including Mizan News Agency published tributes, as the crash highlights the operational strain of maintaining aging aircraft fleets under sanctions — even as geopolitical tensions rise amid wa ings of possible escalation from Donald Trump toward Tehran.