Iran Shoots Down US Fighter Jet, One Pilot Rescued, Media Say

A heavily damaged building is pictured following a strike at the Azadi Sport Complex in Tehran on April 3, 2026. (AFP)
A heavily damaged building is pictured following a strike at the Azadi Sport Complex in Tehran on April 3, 2026. (AFP)
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Iran Shoots Down US Fighter Jet, One Pilot Rescued, Media Say

A heavily damaged building is pictured following a strike at the Azadi Sport Complex in Tehran on April 3, 2026. (AFP)
A heavily damaged building is pictured following a strike at the Azadi Sport Complex in Tehran on April 3, 2026. (AFP)

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.