One crew member from US fighter jet downed in Iran has been rescued, US media report

Edited by Tinshui Yeung and Alex Smith, with reporting from BBC Persian and teams across the Middle East

Iran shooting down a US aircraft was 'only a matter of time', experts say
published at 00:02
00:02

Grace Eliza Goodwin
US reporter

I’ve just spoken to two military analysts, who say what’s most striking about Iran reportedly shooting down a US fighter jet is that it didn’t happen sooner.

“It was sort of inevitable,” says Jennifer Kavanagh, a senior fellow and director of military analysis at think tank Defense Priorities.

It was only “a matter of time before there was some incident like this”, she says.

“We know that Iran has anti-aircraft weapons, and the idea that they had all been eliminated was quite hard to believe and likely inaccurate from the start,” she adds.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that Iran’s air capabilities have been obliterated.

James Jeffrey, a military strategy expert and fellow at think tank The Washington Institute, also says it’s “amazing” that this is the first fighter jet Iran reportedly shot down.

But both Jeffrey and Kavanagh say that, in the grand scheme of the war, this incident matters very little.

While it’s "a big victory" for Iran to have shot down an American jet, for the US, losing a single aircraft “isn’t going to change the operational outcome of the war,” Kavanagh says.

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BBC Verify
Images appear to show debris from a US F-15E Strike Eagle
published at 23:37
23:37
By Joshua Cheetham

BBC Verify has spoken to an expert who confirms that debris in images widely circulating on social media has come from a US F-15E Strike Eagle.

The piece shown are a wingtip and part of a vertical stabiliser from a plane from the US 494th Fighter Squadron based at RAF Lakenheath in the UK, according to Justin Bronk, senior research fellow for airpower and technology in the Military Sciences team at the Rusi think tank.

A reverse image search shows the images only began to circulate on social media today.

We cannot confirm where the images were taken as they are close-ups and there isn't a clear sign that lets us geolocate them, but we have checked them for AI and there are no signs of manipulation.

Damage part of plane on ground
Image source,State media
Image caption,
This image is one of many shared on social media which claims to show debris from a US fighter jet

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The Iranian provinces where state media reports jet has been downed
published at 23:13
23:13

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

While we don’t know exactly where the jet was downed, there are names of two provinces mentioned frequently on Iran’s state media so far - Khuzestan and Kohgiluyeh-Boyerahmad.

BBC Verify has confirmed that a video showing what appears to be a US plane accompanied by two helicopters flying over southern Iran was recorded in Khuzestan province.

Khuzestan is a core centre of Iran’s economy and a major powerhouse for oil and a number of other industries. The province is home to more than 4.7 million people.

Its major steel company was recently targeted during the war and shut down as the result of strikes.

Right next to Khuzestan is mountainous Kohgiluyeh - more than 700,000 are estimated to be living there.

Iranian news outlets have published a video claiming to show people there “searching for the American pilot”.

An Iranian state TV newsreader for a local channel has reported that rewards will be given to anyone who captures the pilot alive.

A map showing the locations of Khuzestan province and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province

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What we know about reported downed US jet over Iran
published at 22:44
22:44
Information is still coming in after reports that a US fighter jet has been downed over Iranian territory.

What we know:

An F-15E fighter jet has reportedly been downed over southern Iran
One crew member from the jet has been rescued by US forces, according to the BBC's US partner CBS - an F-15E jet usually has a two-person crew
US President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt
Iranian media report that authorities have offered a reward of 10 billion tomans (about £50,000) for anyone who captures a downed US crew member alive
What we don't yet know:

While one crew member has reportedly been rescued, there is no word yet on any others
The circumstances surrounding the downing of the jet are still unclear
We have not yet heard from Trump or the Pentagon

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Israel launches further strikes on Tehran and Beirut
published at 22:28
22:28
As reports suggest a search and rescue operation is under way for a downed US F-15 fighter jet in southern Iran, fighting continues.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it has launched another wave of strikes in Tehran.

In the past 24 hours, it says it has carried out "more than 70 strikes in western and central Iran targeting ballistic missile launch sites and unmanned aerial vehicles".

In a separate update, the IDF says it has started striking parts of Beirut.

It also reports detecting multiple barrages of missiles fired at its territory from Iran throughout the day.

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Footage of low-flying US planes over Iran 'consistent with rescue mission' - security analyst
published at 22:08
22:08
Footage widely shared on social media and Iranian state media showing US warplanes over Iran matches typical search and rescue mission manoeuvres, according to the BBC's US partner CBS.

CBS national security analyst Aaron MacLean says the footage seems to show US aircraft flying at low altitudes in broad daylight over hostile territory.

He says this is something the US would only do if it had a good reason, such as trying to rescue a downed pilot or pilots.

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Iranian parliament speaker mocks US over downed jet
published at 21:48
21:48

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
Image source,NurPhoto via Getty Images
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has mocked the US on his X account after reports that an American fighter jet was shot down over Iran.

“After defeating Iran 37 times in a row, this brilliant no-strategy war they started has now been downgraded from 'regime change' to 'Hey! Can anyone find our pilots? Please?',” a post on Ghalibaf's account says.

Trump said on 31 March that there has been regime change in Iran, saying the new crop of Iranian leaders are "much less radicalised" and more "rational".

Ghalibaf has also sarcastically posted, "Wow. What incredible progress. Absolute geniuses."

His account has been very active recently, posting occasional memes, while he was last seen on state TV on 17 March.

Some unconfirmed reports suggested the Trump administration was considering Ghalibaf as a potential partner and possibly even a future leader.

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Analysis
Few answers from US on downed jet - but many questions
published at 21:40
21:40

Bernd Debusmann Jr
White House reporter

We’ve had reports from anonymous officials saying a US F-15 was downed over Iran, but there’s been little public comment from either the White House or the Pentagon.

So far, the only word from the White House is that President Trump has been briefed on the situation.

This is likely because search and rescue efforts were still under way, making public confirmation difficult and sensitive during a delicate operation.

We now know that one crew member has been recovered, according to CBS, the BBC’s US partner.

Officials are expected to face questions about the circumstances of the incident.

US officials, including Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, have repeatedly said Iran’s air defence capabilities have been destroyed in the conflict.

A confirmed shoot-down of a fighter jet would immediately raise questions about Iran’s ability and willingness to continue the fight, and the threat it might pose to US personnel and aircraft over the country.

Early morning light is seen on the White House
Image source,Getty Images

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Analysis
This is the first case of a US jet being downed in this war - and it matters
published at 21:28
21:28

Ione Wells
Foreign correspondent

This is the first known case of a US fighter jet being shot down over Iran during this conflict. Three F-15Es were shot down by accidental "friendly fire" by Kuwaiti air defences earlier in the war.

Why does that matter?

Firstly, this comes after Donald Trump and his defence secretary Pete Hegseth have both repeatedly suggested that the US has effectively won this war. Hegseth and military commanders have spoken of "air superiority" and how degraded Iran’s air defences are. Trump had claimed that Iran "can’t do a thing" about US planes flying over its country.

That rhetoric now seems over-confident. This shows that Iran still retains - albeit likely a limited and very reduced - capacity to defend its skies.

Secondly, this comes as the US has been threatening further escalation while also talking up hopes for a deal. This could be used as fuel to accelerate that US escalation in retaliation.

It also may increase nerves among the American public that more US service people are being impacted by this war, at a time when the Trump administration has reportedly been mulling a potential ground invasion - which would increase the risk to US personnel significantly.

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Trump briefed on downed US jet, White House confirms
published at 21:23
21:23
Breaking
US President Donald Trump has been briefed on the US fighter jet that was downed over Iran, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

"The President has been briefed," she says.

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One crew member from downed US fighter jet rescued, US officials tell CBS
published at 21:17
21:17
Breaking
One crew member from the downed F-15 fighter jet has been rescued, two US officials have told CBS News.

The crew member was rescued by US forces, according to the officials.

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BBC Verify
Video appears to show US search and rescue operation in southern Iran
published at 21:05
21:05
BBC Verify has confirmed a video showing what appears to be a US plane accompanied by two helicopters flying over southern Iran as a search and rescue operation is carried out for the crew of an American jet.

We have confirmed the video was filmed in Khuzestan province, near a bridge over the Karun river, at this location: 31.591393, 50.275430.

The video has been checked for recency and for signs of AI manipulation.

Reports from the US, quoting unnamed officials, say a search is under way after the shooting down of a US fighter jet over Iran.

BBC Verify is continuing to check footage said to show this operation.

00:16
Media caption,
Video appears to show a US plane and helicopters over southern Iran

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Analysis
What to know about the F-15E jets used by the US
published at 20:53
20:53
Chris Partridge
BBC News weapons analyst

Debris of a downed aircraft that originally was posted to social media show wreckage consistent with that of an F-15E Strike Eagle.

These are dual-role fighter jets designed for both air-to-ground and air-to-air missions. In Iran, they are most likely to have been involved in Defensive Counter Air roles to shoot down Iranian drones and cruise missiles.

In its air-to-ground strike role, the jet is a weapons platform capable of dropping laser and GPS guided precision munitions, as well as other bombs.

The aircraft has two crew: the pilot in the front who flies the jet and a Weapons Systems Officer in the back seat. The "Wizzo" has four screens in front of them and is responsible for selecting targets and making sure the weapons are properly programmed for the appropriate attack profile.

This two-crew system allows the workload to be divided up, particularly in a congested air environment where the pilot is trying to evade threats.

We do not know what specifically brought down this US jet, but if it was taken down by the Iranians then the most likely reason is a surface-to-air missile (SAM).

Short range, infra-red guided MANPADs are portable systems that remain a serious threat in Iran because they can be quickly moved around. The use of flares "popped" by targeted aircraft is the most common means of trying to defeat SAMs.

US military commanders have often talked of air superiority over parts of Iran in this war, but this incident, if confirmed to be a shoot-down, shows how the dangers very much remain.

Infographic about the US F‑15E Strike Eagle fighter jet with a photo of the aircraft in flight and text explaining its features: designed for long‑range missions to attack ground targets and fight its way out; has a two‑person crew of a pilot and a weapon systems officer; uses terrain‑following radar to fly safely at very low altitudes. Notes that F‑15s have been in service since 1974, with the F‑15E introduced in 1988. States an approximate cost of $100m (£75m). Source: the US Air Force.

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Iranian governor says priority to capture US pilot 'alive' after reports of downed jet
published at 20:41
20:41

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

The governor of Iran's southern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province says that the priority is “capturing" any downed US crew "alive”.

“Those who succeed in capturing or killing hostile enemy forces will be specially commended by the Governor’s office," he adds, according to a report by semi-official ISNA news agency.

Meanwhile, Iranian outlets have said that a reward of 10 billion tomans (around £50,000) has been set by traders of the province for anyone who finds the American “intruder”.

Map showing south‑west Iran and the surrounding Gulf region. It highlights Khuzestan province and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer‑Ahmad province inside Iran. neighbouring countries Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE are labelled.

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Search under way for downed US F-15 jet, two sources tell CBS News
published at 20:23
20:23
Breaking
A search and rescue effort is under way for a downed US F-15 fighter jet in southern Iran, two sources confirmed to CBS News, the BBC's US news partner.

It is not known how many crew members were on board.

Images posted on social media and verified by CBS News showed a refuelling plane and two helicopters flying low over Khuzestan Province, consistent with a search and rescue mission.

Iran's state media claimed Iranian forces shot down the plane.

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What we know - and don't - about reports of a downed US jet in Iran
published at 20:11
20:11
Media reports say a US fighter jet has been downed in Iran, with a search under way for the crew.

What we know

The reports first came in Iranian media, with the Tasnim news agency claiming the US was searching for the crew
Axios, Reuters and the New York Times have since reported the same, citing a US official. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not offer further details, Reuters says
It comes after US Central Command (Centcom) denied IRGC reports on Thursday that a fighter pilot had been shot down over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz
What we don't know

Whether the earlier Centcom statement refers to the most recent media reports
The fate and whereabouts of the crew, and how many were on board
What type of plane it was