In a developing incident amid the Iran-Israel conflict, Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported that crowds of civilians have flocked to the crash site of a US fighter jet in southwestern Iran, with some driving in private vehicles towards the scene. IRIB also posted on X (formerly Twitter) that many locals are attempting to locate the pilot, urging citizens not to mistreat the captured personnel.
According to Iranian media, a US fighter pilot ejected from an aircraft in the region. This marks the first known US jet loss inside Iran since the conflict began on February 28. US sources confirmed that one crew member has been rescued by special forces, while efforts continue to find the second.
The incident involved an F-15E fighter jet, as reported by The New York Times and Wall Street Journal. The aircraft, operated by a pilot and a weapons-systems officer, was struck during the ongoing hostilities.
Iranian officials have launched a search operation, with local authorities in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province—an area characterized by rugged terrain—calling on residents to assist in locating the missing pilot. Iranian state television also issued a stark warning, urging the public to shoot any US personnel they encounter.
Meanwhile, Iran’s media claimed to have shot down an F-35 stealth fighter over central Iran, according to Tasnim news agency, which published images of wreckage and suggested the pilot’s survival chances are slim. IRIB also asserted that an F-15E belonging to the UK-based 494th Fighter Squadron was shot down, with debris confirming the loss, though the fate of the pilots remains uncertain.
This is the third time Iran has claimed to have downed an F-35 since the conflict erupted in late February, with previous assertions on March 23 and April 2 dismissed by US Central Command as false claims.
A US official told Reuters that a search is ongoing for the crew of the downed US fighter