Trump says U.S. military has rescued airman shot down over Iran

Middle East Trump says U.S. military has rescued airman shot down over Iran April 5, 20261:53 AM ET By  NPR Staff President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House before signing an executive order Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption toggle caption Alex Brandon/AP A U.S. Airforce officer whose plane was shot down in Iran was rescued by U.S. forces early Sunday after evading capture for more than a day in enemy territory, President Trump announced on social media. "The U.S. Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him. He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine," Trump said on Truth Social. The officer's F-15 fighter jet was shot down on Friday over western Iran, and Trump said "one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History" was undertaken to rescue him. Sponsor Message Trump said the airman was a colonel and "was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran." He was one of two crew members who ejected when their jet was hit. The pilot was rescued shortly after the shoot down, but the colonel, a weapons officer, could not immediately be reached. The U.S. military scrambled to launch a massive rescue operation. President Trump said in his Truth Social post that it involved dozens of aircraft. Three of those rescue aircraft, which were flying at low altitudes, were also hit by Iranian fire, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly. One was an A-10 Warthog. The pilot managed to keep flying until he reached nearby Kuwaiti airspace, where he ejected and was rescued. Two helicopters were hit by Iranian fire, but were able to make it safely back to their base, the U.S. official said. Numerous videos over the weekend showed planes and helicopters that closely resemble American search and rescue (SAR) aircraft flying in southwestern Iran. NPR was able to geolocate one of the videos to a bridge in the p...