Iran says a C-130 rescue mission collapsed under air defense fire following the downing of a US aircraft earlier today.
Key Developments
- Iran says second US fighter jet downed over central Iran within 24 hours.
- US launches helicopter and C-130 rescue mission that fails under Iranian fire.
- Iran calls for capture of pilots as details on aircraft remain contested.
Iran Downs US Warplane
Iranian air defenses shot down a US fighter jet over central Iran on Friday, according to Iranian military and media reports, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing war.
Tasnim News Agency reported that the aircraft was destroyed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which said the jet belonged to a US Air Force squadron based at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom.
The IRGC stated that the fighter jet was “completely destroyed” after being struck by its Aerospace Force’s advanced air defense systems.
The downing follows an earlier announcement that another US aircraft had been shot down less than 24 hours earlier, pointing to a rapid intensification in Iran’s air defense operations.
According to Iranian reports, the pilot ejected and landed inside Iranian territory following the strike. US officials have acknowledged that a fighter jet was downed and that search-and-rescue operations were underway, but have not provided further details.
Iranian sources identified the aircraft as an F-35, while other reports cited by Al Mayadeen, based on debris analysis, suggested it may have been an F-15.
🚨📡 TASNIM (citing sources):
US helicopters are reportedly conducting search operations for a pilot after the IRGC downed his aircraft in Iran.
🔹 According to the report, multiple aircraft including Black Hawk helicopters and a C-130 were deployed in an attempt to recover the… pic.twitter.com/t7FPIHw7Qc
— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) April 3, 2026
Rescue Operation Fails Under Fire
Following the downing, US forces launched a search-and-rescue operation to recover the pilot, deploying Black Hawk helicopters and a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, according to Tasnim.
Tasnim reported that the rescue mission came under direct fire from Iranian air defense systems, forcing US aircraft to withdraw from the area. At least one helicopter was reportedly hit, while accompanying aircraft deployed defensive flares before retreating.
Despite the scale of the operation, US forces were unable to locate or extract the pilot, according to Iranian reports.
In a further escalation, Iranian state television called on civilians to assist in capturing American pilots alive, offering what it described as a “valuable reward” for any information leading to their capture, Al Mayadeen reported.
The incident comes as Iran continues its retaliatory campaign against US and Israeli operations launched after the February 28 escalation, with Iranian forces targeting regional bases and positions with missiles and drones.
The downing of a US warplane inside Iranian airspace marks a sharp escalation in direct confrontation, as Iranian air defenses increasingly engage US aircraft and challenge Washington’s operational freedom over the country.
(Tasnim, Al Mayadeen, Axios, Reuters)
