A United States warplane crashed over Iran on Friday, with one of its two crew members rescued by US special forces, multiple American media outlets reported. Axios and CBS News, citing unnamed sources, said the crew member was recovered while efforts continued to locate the second. The aircraft was identified as an F-15E Strike Eagle, a twin-seat fighter typically flown by a pilot and a weapons systems officer, according to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. CNN noted that images shared by Iranian media appeared to show wreckage matching an F-15, contradicting earlier claims it was an F-35 Lightning II. US outlets also reported that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the incident, though neither the White House nor the Department of Defense issued an immediate confirmation. Social media and Iranian news platforms circulated footage of US helicopters and aircraft flying low near the suspected crash site as rescue teams pressed the search for the missing crew member.
The rescue of one crew member while the second remains unaccounted for underscores the high stakes of US operations in Iran. Donald Trump's briefing on the incident suggests the administration is treating the crash as a serious security concern. If the missing crew member is confirmed dead or captured, it could escalate tensions already strained by recent confrontations. Without official confirmation, the lack of immediate details raises doubts about the Pentagon's transparency.
