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US recovers F-15E crewman after 36 hours in Iran; two rescue aircraft destroyed

After an F-15E was shot down over southern Iran, US forces and the CIA conducted a covert recovery that rescued a weapons officer after 36 hours on the ground, destroyed two rescue aircraft to avoid capture and evacuated the injured colonel to a Kuwait hospital.

Apr 6th 2026 · United States

Insights

  • A US Air Force colonel was recovered and is hospitalized in Kuwait with serious injuries.
  • His F-15E was shot down over southern Iran and he spent about 36 hours hidden on Iranian soil.
  • Two US rescue aircraft were destroyed by their crews to prevent their capture by Iranian forces.
  • The CIA carried out a deception to conceal the pilot while Navy SEALs and other forces executed the recovery.
  • The White House reports the operation ended successfully with no US fatalities.

Sources