The second crew member of a US F-15E Strike Eagle that was shot down over Iran has been rescued and safely taken out of the country, US President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday. The aircraft, which went down on Friday, typically carries a two-person crew.
Earlier, one crew member had already been recovered. However, the status of the second airman remained unclear until now. According to a US government official cited by Al Jazeera, the individual managed to evade Iranian forces for nearly two days before being located.
The same official said the extraction followed a “heavy firefight”, indicating the operation involved significant risk.
Trump calls mission ‘one of the most daring’
Announcing the development, Trump said, “we got him,” while praising the military effort. He described the mission as “one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US History,” adding that the rescued airman was “safe and sound.”
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Trump also confirmed that the first crew member had been rescued earlier, referring to him as another “brave pilot.”
Airman injured but stable
Providing further details, Trump said the second rescued officer is “one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel.” He noted that the airman had been hiding in “the treacherous mountains of Iran” while being pursued.
“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,” Trump said.
The President added that multiple senior officials, including military leadership, were closely monitoring the situation. He stated that the US deployed several aircraft for the mission.
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“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 said.
Reiterating his stance, Trump declared, “WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND!” and noted that no American personnel were killed or wounded during the operation.
He also called the rescue a moment of unity, saying, “This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republican, Democrat, and everyone else, should be proud of and united around.”
