CENTCOM did not respond to AFP query on first such report in ongoing Middle East war
An F-15 jet releases a flare as it flies over Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border, July 20, 2025. REUTERS
One US crew member has been rescued after Iran shot down a warplane on Friday, Israeli and US media reported, as the war looked set to intensify with US President Donald Trump threatening more attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Two US sources told Reuters the plane was a two-seat F-15E and a search was underway.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said it was combing an area near where the plane came down in southwestern Iran.
The regional governor promised a commendation for anyone who captured or killed the pilot.
Israeli media cited Israeli officials as saying one pilot had been rescued. US broadcaster CBS News reported the same, citing two US officials.
Iranian news agencies said US helicopters were flying low on apparent search missions and carried videos of residents shooting at them.
The Iranian military earlier reported the downed aircraft was an F-35, a single-seater. The Pentagon and US Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The loss underlined the risk still faced by US and Israeli aircraft over Iran, despite assertions by Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that their forces had total control of the skies.
Iran deployed troops and offered a bounty as it launched a hunt for a United States pilot whose jet had been downed by the Islamic Republic’s air defence systems on Friday.
US Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for military operations in the Middle East, did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment on the first such report in the war engulfing the region.
The war started more than a month ago with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, triggering retaliation that spread the conflict throughout the Middle East, convulsing the global economy and impacting millions of people worldwide.
“Military forces have launched a search operation to find the American fighter pilot who was hit earlier today,” Iran’s Fars news agency said.
“Dear and honourable people of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, if you capture the enemy pilot or pilots alive and hand them over to the police and military forces, you will receive a valuable reward and bonus,” said an Iranian television reporter on the official local channel.
US media outlet Axios also reported on the F-15 jet downed by Iran.
Citing Iranian media and a source familiar with the incident, Axios said if confirmed, it would be the first time since the beginning of the war that a US jet was downed by “enemy” fire.
🚨🇺🇸🇮🇷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
The report of the downed jet came as fresh strikes hit Israel, Iran and Gulf countries. Large blasts rocked northern Tehran on Friday afternoon, an AFP journalist said. It was not immediately clear what was hit.
Two US officials told Reuters that a search-and-rescue operation is underway for any survivors of the jet as the Pentagon and CENTCOM did not respond to requests for comment.
