US President Donald Trump recently revealed the three-word radio message sent by a US pilot trapped in Iran, which initially sparked fears of an Iranian trap. The pilot, a weapons system officer, had ejected from his downed F-15E Strike Eagle over southern Iran on April 3, 2026, during the ongoing conflict. After his aircraft was shot down, the first pilot was rescued, but the second remained missing, and both US and Iranian forces raced to locate him.

During the search, Trump explained in an interview with Axios that the US was initially skeptical of the pilot’s message after his ejection. The pilot sent a short, peculiar message over the radio: “God is Good.” Trump noted that while the message seemed unusual, especially with its religious tone, it was later confirmed that the officer was indeed a religious person, and it was not out of character for him to use such a phrase.

At first, however, US officials feared that the Iranians might be playing a trick by sending false signals to lure US forces into a trap. The phrase “God is Good” caused some initial concern, as it was a phrase that sounded like something a Muslim might say. Trump emphasized that after verifying the officer’s identity and status, it became clear that he had not been captured but was alive and in hiding.

Once the confirmation was made, the rescue operation, described as one of the most daring in US history, was swiftly put into motion. Around 200 special operations troops were deployed to rescue the pilot, who had managed to evade capture for over 24 hours by hiding in a crevice in the mountainous terrain. The operation involved hundreds of US troops, warplanes, helicopters, and intelligence resources.

The mission also involved a firefight between US and Iranian forces as they raced to secure the pilot. In an intense twist, two transport planes, used to extract the airman and special forces, became stuck at a remote Iranian base. US forces decided to destroy the planes to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands, and ultimately sent three new planes to complete the mission.

After a dramatic series of events, the US pilot was successfully rescued, and President Trump confirmed his safety. The incident marked a significant moment in the ongoing conflict, highlighting the challenges faced by US forces in hostile foreign territories and underscoring the tension between the US and Iran.