Trump says US rescued second crew member of F-15 shot down over Iran
President Trump announced a second successful search-and-rescue for a crew member of an F-15E downed April 3, saying the operation involved 'dozens of aircraft' and no US fatalities. The raid highlights US reach into Iran but raises escalation risks and is already reshaping diplomatic bandwidth — Ukrainian talks with the US are being postponed as attention shifts to the Middle East.
Apr 5, 2026, 11:08 AM EDT
Why it matters:
- A confirmed US recovery of a second crew member removes a potential hostage and is a major tactical win for Washington. - The mission — described by the president as bold and heavily resourced — demonstrates US ability to operate deep inside Iran and increases the risk of further escalation while diverting diplomatic focus from other crises.
Driving the news:
- President Donald Trump announced on social media that US forces recovered the second member of the F-15E crew that was shot down over Iran on April 3. - Trump said the two crew members were rescued in separate operations and that both are now safe, though one sustained injuries.
What they're saying:
- "We found him!" Trump wrote, calling the mission "one of the most daring search-and-rescue operations in US history" and stressing that "we never leave an American behind." - Trump claimed the operation used "dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the world," and said there were no US casualties.
By the numbers:
- The F-15E and an A-10 were reported downed in the same period; the F-15E was shot down on April 3. - Iran reportedly offered a $60,000 reward for capturing the missing US airman, and Iranian forces searched the area intensely. - US media sources said the second rescue involved special-operations forces and more than a day of tracking before extraction.
The big picture:
- Kyiv says the Iran war is pulling US focus away from Ukraine and delaying peace-track diplomacy; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned negotiations are being postponed because US attention is concentrated on the Middle East. - Trump has also said the US could end the conflict "right now" but insists operations must continue to prevent Iran from rebuilding toward a nuclear capability, signaling a willingness to prolong military pressure.
The bottom line:
- The announced rescue is a tactical success for the US that both reduces a near-term hostage risk and deepens the strategic stakes and diplomatic ripple effects of the Iran conflict.