Special forces veteran warns rescue of downed US airman ‘highly dangerous and complex’ mission

WASHINGTON, DC: Efforts to rescue a missing US crew member from a downed F-15 fighter jet in Iran are expected to be “very dangerous and complex,” according to Bryan Stern, a military veteran with experience in extracting personnel from conflict zones.

Speaking to CNN, Stern cautioned that such operations are far more challenging than commonly portrayed. “It’s not as simple as flying a helicopter in… it’s not like TV,” he said, underscoring the operational risks involved.

Hostile airspace complicates rescue efforts

Stern pointed to increasing threats in Iranian airspace, noting reports of ground fire targeting low-flying aircraft.

He referenced recent footage appearing to show Iranian personnel firing at helicopters in southwestern Iran, suggesting such encounters may be widespread.

“Getting aircraft in is very dangerous,” he said, adding that multiple similar incidents likely remain undocumented.

Race against time to locate missing crew member

US forces are continuing an urgent search for the second crew member after one airman was successfully rescued following the downing of the F-15E Strike Eagle.

Stern stressed the urgency of the mission, noting the missing service member may have been evading capture for over 36 hours under extreme conditions.

“They’ve been on the run… in mountainous terrain, with limited communications and possibly injured,” he said, describing the situation as increasingly perilous with time.

Night operations offer advantage and new risks

Any potential rescue attempt is likely to be conducted under the cover of darkness, leveraging the US military’s superior night-vision capabilities.

However, Stern warned that nighttime conditions also complicate navigation for the stranded pilot. “The catch is… the pilot has to navigate at night also, and that’s not always the easiest,” he said.

Iranian state outlets have offered mixed accounts of the situation. The Tasnim News Agency reported that efforts to locate the missing crew member had so far been unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, the Fars News Agency said a reward had been announced for the capture of any “enemy pilot.”

Authorities have denied that the missing US service member is in the custody of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Separately, officials in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province dismissed claims of a successful US rescue as “a tactic of the enemy.”

The exact location of the crash remains unclear, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing search-and-rescue mission, as US forces continue operations in a highly contested and volatile environment.