Iranian Media Claims US Rescue Mission For Downed Jet Crew Has Failed

Last Updated:April 03, 2026, 23:59 IST

Iranian media say IRGC shot down two US F35 jets over Iran, claim one pilot remains unrecovered and a US rescue attempt was foiled, the US has not confirmed the reports

Amid the ongoing tension in West Asia, Iranian media have reported that an American fighter jet was shot down over western/central Iran on Friday, triggering a search for the pilot by both US forces and Iranian civilians.

According to Iranian media, the US Military’s effort to find the pilot has failed.  A video of the same incident that took place in southern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province was shared by Tasnim News Agency.

Earlier on Friday, sharing a video on X, the news agency claimed that Iranian Forces foiled a US rescue bid for a downed fighter jet pilot. “Iranian armed forces have thwarted an American attempt to rescue the pilot of a US fighter jet shot down over Iranian territory," the caption of the video read.

US forces had been conducting a search operation since earlier today to recover the pilot of their fighter jet, which was shot down by Iran’s Armed Forces, the agency reported.

It claimed that the operation involved Black Hawk helicopters and a C-130 Hercules the IRGCaircraft and their efforts have so far been futile. Citing sources, the news agency said that after IRGC destroyed US fighter jet, the pilot ejected and landed inside the country.

Meanwhile, IRGC announced on Friday that the second F-35 fighter jet was destroyed in the skies of central Iran by the new advanced defense system of the IRGC Aerospace Force. It said the doomed fighter jet belongs to the Lakenheath squadron, the Tasnim News agency reported. However, there has been no official confirmation from US side on the matter.

News world Iranian Media Claims US Rescue Mission For Downed Jet Crew Has Failed

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