US rescues 2nd crew member of downed fighter jet in Iran

The second crew member of the U.S. F-15E that was downed over Iran on Apr. 3 has been rescued, BBC reported, citing U.S. media reports.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the rescue in a Truth Social post.

We got him: Trump

“We got him!” Trump wrote, calling the rescue operation "one of the most daring search and rescue operations in U.S. history."

The crew member, a "highly-respected colonel", is now "safe and sound", the U.S. President commented.

The crew member is a weapons systems officer.

The fighter jet's pilot was rescued earlier on Apr. 4.

Trump said that officials did not confirm the earlier successful rescue of the pilot so as not to jeopardise the second rescue operation.

"We will never leave an American warfighter behind!" Trump declared.

According to Trump, no Americans were killed or wounded during the search and rescue operations, which he said involved "dozens of aircraft".

He also said that the U.S. has achieved "overwhelming air dominance and superiority over Iranian skies."

Engagement between U.S. and Iranian forces took place

One person familiar with the operation described it as a “huge” combat search and rescue mission in southern Iran, BBC wrote.

Engagement between U.S. and Iranian forces reportedly took place during the rescue.

In a video circulating on X purportedly of the engagement, explosions and gunfire could be heard ringing out in the night.

The pilot may have been injured during the initial ejection, according to the BBC.

After reports emerged of the downing of the U.S. fighter jet, images circulating on social media showed U.S. military aircraft flying at a lower altitude over central and southwestern Iran in search of the missing weapons systems officer.

Top image via Wikimedia Commons, social media