US deploys rescue helicopters in search for missing F-15 co-pilot in Iran

CENTRAL IRAN: US forces have deployed rescue helicopters on Saturday, April 4, in an effort to locate a missing crew member from a downed F-15E fighter jet in Iran, as search operations entered a second day.

The aircraft was shot down over southwestern Iran, prompting a recovery mission in hostile territory. 

Iranian state-linked outlets reported that civilians and local groups were mobilized to assist in locating the pilot. The incident comes amid ongoing military exchanges in the region involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Rescue efforts intensify, search expands on ground

The US military has escalated efforts to locate the missing co-pilot, deploying at least two rescue helicopters as part of a broader search-and-rescue mission.

The operation continued into its second day on Saturday, with the pilot believed to have ejected from the F-15E Strike Eagle after it was downed over Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, near the Iraq border.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for shooting down the aircraft. In parallel, Iranian authorities and state-affiliated media have encouraged civilians to assist in locating the missing crew member.

An announcer on a local television station said, “If you capture the enemy pilot or pilots alive and hand them over to the police, you will receive a precious prize.” Reports indicated that earlier messaging had even suggested using force against the pilot if found.

Footage circulating on social media showed villagers and members of the Bakhtiari tribes moving across mountainous and desert terrain in search of the downed pilot.

According to the Tasnim news agency, “The people of the province, especially tribesmen and villagers, have taken up personal weapons to patrol and search across the province’s mountains and plains, ready to fight enemy forces if encountered.”

Iranian officials have reportedly offered a reward of approximately $60,000 for information leading to the pilot’s capture.

The missing crew member’s status remains unknown. Military analysts have suggested that any rescue effort could rely on nighttime operations, where US forces typically have technological advantages, including advanced night-vision capabilities.

One crew member rescued as regional conflict continues

The F-15E Strike Eagle involved in the incident is a two-seat aircraft that was participating in a broader US-Israel air campaign against Iran that began on February 28.

US officials confirmed that one crew member was rescued within hours of the aircraft being downed and is currently receiving medical treatment following what was described as a high-risk recovery operation by American special forces.

The search for the second crew member is ongoing, with no official confirmation regarding their condition or location. The incident has drawn additional attention as it unfolds alongside continued military activity in the region.

On Saturday, April 4, Israeli forces carried out strikes targeting infrastructure in Tehran.

While the Israeli Defense Forces did not immediately release detailed information about the operation, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization reported that an airstrike struck near the Bushehr nuclear facility, resulting in the death of a security guard and damage to a nearby structure.

Elsewhere, regional tensions remained high. An Iranian drone reportedly struck a building linked to US technology company Oracle in Dubai, while Israeli authorities said additional Iranian missile launches were detected.