Where did US fighter jet crash in Iran? See how pilots were rescued
Both crew members have been found after an intense search-and-rescue effort by hundreds of special forces troops following the crash of an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter in Iran, President Donald Trump announced early April 5.
The crew of the two-seater F-15 jet were able to eject after the craft was shot down by Iranian forces on April 3. The first crew member was rescued not long after the crash. The second evaded capture for more than 36 hours, before being rescued by Navy SEAL Team 6 commandos.
Trump said Special Operations forces rescued the second crew member in a risky night mission in a mountainous region deep inside Iran. Trump said the crew member, identified as an Air Force colonel, sustained injuries but "he will be just fine."
No U.S. casualties were reported in the rescue.
In addition to training its pilots how to survive air crashes and evade capture by enemy forces, the U.S. Air Force maintains elite teams, including Pararescuemen, that specialize in pilot rescues.
Where did the F-15 jet crash?
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A red stripe on the aircraft’s tail fin and other markings are consistent with those of the 494th Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing, based at RAF Lakenheath, reported the Military Times. When and where the pictures were taken, however, could not immediately be confirmed, according to the Guardian.
Iranian officials told civilians to be on the lookout for survivors and flooded social media with images that purport to show wreckage from the aircraft.
The F-15 is the first U.S. crewed aircraft to be shot down inside hostile territory during Operation Epic Fury, reported the Washington Post.
A second U.S. military aircraft, an A-10 attack jet, went down in the Persian Gulf region and the lone pilot was rescued, multiple news outlets reported on April 3, including the New York Times and ABC News.
How an aircraft loss is detected
The crash of a military aircraft can be detected by loss of radio communication and radar contact or by visual verification by nearby aircraft.
Military aircraft contain emergency locator beacons that transmit automatically after a crash or after pilots eject. The distress signals are detected by satellites and by military aircraft or other receivers. The signals help rescuers pinpoint the crash site.
What happens after an aircraft is reported lost?
When a loss is verified, an operation called a Personnel Recovery response begins immediately. Officials gather the best information available, including:
- Location and terrain.
- Number and status of crew.
- Location of hostile forces.
This information helps the military decide whether a rescue is immediately feasible, what methods should be used, and which aircraft to send to rescue the crew.
The Air Force says its Pararescuemen, also known as PJs, are "the only elite combat forces specifically organized, trained, equipped, and postured" to conduct full recovery operations using conventional and unconventional combat tactics.
What rescue aircraft is used?
Rescues are carried out by different aircraft working together. The primary aircraft used in rescues are:
- HH-60W: A long-range, dedicated combat search-and-rescue helicopter.
- HC-130J: A command/control and support fixed-wing aircraft that can refuel helicopters in flight.
Rescue helicopters rarely fly unprotected while on a mission. Other fighter jets and helicopters can be used to protect and support them, including:
- F‑15E Strike Eagle fighter jet.
- F‑16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet.
- A‑10 Thunderbolt II (nicknamed “Warthog”) jet.
- E-3 AWACS radar planes for communication support.
Rescued pilots are immediately treated for injuries and taken to a secure location.
How do USAF pilots train for the possibility their aircraft is shot down or crashes?
All Air Force pilots receive mandatory training in SERE – Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape. The purpose is to make sure air crews can stay alive, avoid capture and return home after being shot down or caught up in another emergency.
Pilots take SERE training periodically, especially before deployments. The 336th Training Group is home to the USAF's SERE school at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington state.
CONTRIBUTING Cybele Mayes-Osterman
SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Reuters; U.S. Air Force; Lockheed Martin; military.com; Military Times
This story was updated to add new information.