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How U.S. Forces Rescued an Injured Pilot From Iran
A U.S. fighter jet was flying near Isfahan, Iran, when a missile hit it.
The two people inside escaped using parachutes.
They landed far apart from each other.
Alpha was rescued by helicopters several hours later.
Bravo was badly hurt and had broken bones.
He had to move through a difficult area with cliffs and valleys.
He survived for about 50 hours before being rescued.
Around 90 highly trained U.S. service members helped with the operation.
The Central Intelligence Agency also provided intelligence support.
A U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down by a shoulder-fired missile near Isfahan on April 2.
Two airmen ejected, but landed separately after the aircraft was struck during a mission targeting Iranian drone- and missile-related facilities.
One airman, identified as Bravo, suffered broken bones and spent about 50 hours in Iran’s high desert valleys.
The other airman, Alpha, was rescued by American helicopters in a risky daytime operation six hours after the crash.
The broader rescue effort involved about 90 elite U.S. service members and intelligence support from the Central Intelligence Agency.
- Who
- Two U.S. Air Force airmen, identified as Alpha and Bravo, and U.S. military and Central Intelligence Agency personnel.
- What
- A U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down, leading to a high-risk operation to rescue its crew.
- Where
- Near Isfahan, Iran, in a mountainous region of high desert valleys and cliffs.
- When
- The crash occurred on April 2; Alpha was rescued six hours later, while Bravo’s rescue followed about two days after the crash.
- Why
- The aircraft was conducting a strike on industrial facilities connected to Iran’s drone and missile program, and U.S. forces sought to recover the stranded airmen.
Key facts
- Aircraft
- F-15E Strike Eagle
- Crash date
- April 2
- Crash location
- Near Isfahan, Iran
- Cause
- A shoulder-fired missile
- Bravo’s injuries
- Broken back, arm and shoulder
- Survival period
- About 50 hours
- Rescue force
- Approximately 90 elite U.S. service members, with Central Intelligence Agency intelligence support
Quotes
Bravo
US Air Force colonel and F-15E backseater who was injured in the crash
“I had injuries, but we all train to adapt and overcome the things that we’re faced with. I moved as quickly as I could, despite the injuries, away from the place that I landed”
indianexpress.com
“At one point when I looked up and saw no parachute, that was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen”
indianexpress.com
Pete Hegseth
US defense secretary overseeing the military response
“Whether they’re alive or not, we’re going to go get them”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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