Iran strikes twice in one day: A-10 Warthog downed near Hormuz as Tehran hunts F-15 pilot
WASHINGTON, DC: A second US aircraft has gone down amid the escalating conflict involving Iran on Friday, April 3, with early reports indicating that at least one pilot has been safely recovered.
According to multiple outlets, including The New York Times, the latest incident involved an A-10 attack aircraft crashing in the Persian Gulf, while a separate F-15 jet was also brought down over Iranian territory.
🚨 BREAKING: A SECOND US Air Force combat plane, an A-10 Warthog, has GONE DOWN in the Persian Gulf region today
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 3, 2026
Luckily, the pilot is SAFE after being rescued
This happened around the same time an F-15 went down over Iran, per NYT
Details are very scant. pic.twitter.com/T4KcpjyFNZ
Second US plane downed over Iran
The developments point to a rapidly intensifying situation, with two separate aircraft incidents reported within a short span.
The A-10 Warthog reportedly went down near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, and the lone pilot onboard was successfully rescued, according to sources cited by The New York Times.
This took place around the same time when another US fighter jet, identified as an F-15, was reportedly shot down over Iran.
Initial confirmation came from multiple media outlets citing officials familiar with the matter.
BREAKING: One of the two U.S. crew members from the F‑15E fighter jet shot down over Iran has been rescued; The search and rescue mission for the other continues
— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) April 3, 2026
"One crew member from the U.S. F-15E fighter jet downed over Iran was rescued by American forces, two U.S. officials… pic.twitter.com/skUV12W0zA
Iranian media also circulated images claiming to show debris from the downed aircraft, adding to the growing information war surrounding the incidents.
The situation on the ground remains fluid, particularly in Iran, where search efforts continue for one of the missing crew members from the downed F-15.
Rescue efforts underway as tensions escalate
Journalist Barak Ravid reported that one of the two pilots from the downed F-15 has already been recovered.
🚨🇺🇸🇮🇷One of two crew members of a U.S. fighter jet that was shot down over Iran was located and rescued by U.S. special forces and the search for the second is ongoing, per Israeli official and a source with knowledge. My report on @axios https://t.co/8CR6n5WqJA
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) April 3, 2026
In his update, he noted, “One of two crew members of a US fighter jet that was shot down over Iran was located and rescued by US special forces, and the search for the second is ongoing.”
US officials have acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, with Karoline Leavitt confirming that Donald Trump has been briefed and is closely monitoring developments.
At the same time, Iranian state media has reportedly escalated rhetoric, announcing a “valuable reward” for anyone who captures the missing American pilot alive.
