Earlier reports had indicated that the rescue mission was still underway and that the second crew member remained unaccounted for behind enemy lines. The aircraft’s downing represents the first such incident involving a US fighter jet inside Iran since the current conflict began. While one pilot had already been rescued in a separate operation, efforts to locate the second intensified amid active hostilities between US and Iranian forces.
According to updated information, the second crew member was located and recovered following what has been described as a heavy firefight. However, officials indicated that the airman had not yet been fully evacuated from Iranian territory, and both the individual and the rescue team remained at risk as extraction efforts continued.
US President Donald Trump confirmed the recovery in a statement posted to his Truth Social platform, describing the operation as one of the most complex search-and-rescue missions conducted by the US military. He said the recovered airman, identified as a senior officer, had been trapped in mountainous terrain while being pursued by opposing forces. Trump added that the pilot sustained injuries but is expected to recover, and confirmed that no US personnel were killed during the operation.
The president also revealed that the earlier rescue of the first pilot had been deliberately withheld from public disclosure to avoid compromising the second mission. He characterized the dual rescues as unprecedented, noting that two US pilots were successfully recovered in separate operations deep within hostile territory.
Despite the successful recovery, the situation remains fluid. Military sources indicated that the final phase of the mission—safely extracting the airman and rescue personnel from Iran—had not yet been completed, underscoring the ongoing risks tied to the operation and the broader regional conflict.
