Race to find missing American pilot after fighter jet shot down by Iran

WorldPolitics
4 Apr 2026 • 4:14 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Iran shot down two American military aircraft, an F15-E Strike Eagle fighter jet and an A-10 attack aircraft, marking a rare assault for the US not seen in over two decades.
  • One service member from the F15-E was rescued, with a search ongoing for a second, while Iranian state media reported the A-10 crashed after being hit.
  • The attacks occurred five weeks after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, despite assertions from Donald Trump that Iran's missile and drone capabilities had been 'dramatically curtailed'.
  • Experts suggest a shoulder-fired missile was likely used against the F-15, highlighting Iran's continued, albeit weakened, lethality and its ability to fight back.
  • The incident underscores the ongoing conflict, with US forces having flown over 13,000 missions, and experts noting that Iran's air defence system, though degraded, is not destroyed.

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