03/04/2026
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03/04/2026
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WASHINGTON / TEHRAN, April 3: One crew member has been rescued after an American aircraft went down in Iran, according to a U.S. and an Israeli official, both speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive ongoing military operations.
Earlier, the United States military had launched a search-and-rescue operation after Iranian state media reported that an American fighter jet went down in a mountainous region of southwest Iran, with at least one crew member believed to have ejected.
The incident, which remains unconfirmed by U.S. authorities, is being described as a rapidly developing situation amid heightened regional tensions. Iranian media said the aircraft came down in a rural, mountainous area of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, a sparsely populated region roughly 500 kilometres southwest of Tehran.
According to the reports, at least one pilot ejected from the aircraft before it crashed or went down. However, it remains unclear how many personnel were aboard the jet, or whether the aircraft was shot down or suffered a mechanical failure.
The U.S. military has not publicly confirmed the incident. The White House, the Pentagon, and U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
An Israeli military officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Israel is assisting the United States in the search-and-rescue effort. The officer said the operation is ongoing and involves coordination of aerial assets, though details were not officially disclosed ahead of a U.S. statement.
Social media footage circulating online appeared to show American drones, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft operating over rugged terrain in the search area. The authenticity of the footage has not been independently verified.
Iranian state media also published images purportedly showing American aircraft over the region, including helicopters and surveillance drones operating at low altitude. Local reports suggested a large-scale aerial presence in the area following the incident.
The terrain where the aircraft reportedly went down is described as remote and mountainous, covering more than 15,000 square kilometres, and is largely inhabited by rural communities engaged in farming. The province is also geographically significant, sitting near the northern edge of Iran’s oil-producing regions.
Local media reports indicated confusion and shifting guidance to the public in the aftermath of the incident. An initial broadcast reportedly urged residents to “shoot them as soon as you see them” if they encountered American personnel. That instruction was later revised following a police statement, which called on citizens to assist authorities by reporting any downed pilots and handing them over alive to security services in exchange for what was described as a “precious prize.”
Officials stressed that the area remains under surveillance, with security and emergency services attempting to locate any survivors and secure the crash site.
