New York Post89%
US Forces have rescued missing crew member of F-15E jet downed by Iran in daring mission, intense fighting 73%
By Ariel Zilber0%
4/5/2026, 3:57:59 AM
Topics: Operation Epic Fury
BS Summary: This article contains 26 faulty reasoning types, including Biased Writer Voice, Negativity Bias, and In-Group Bias, with Halo Effect as the most egregious example at 30.3% saturation with 272 hits. Analysis detected 2,458 faulty-reasoning hits from 899 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 66.1% and a BS Rank of 73% (4,570 of 16,813 articles). This article is worse (more manipulative) than 72.80% of the article peer group.
US forces have successfully rescued and extracted the missing crew member of an American fighter jet that was shot down over Iran following “one of the most daring search-and-rescue operations” in the country’s history, President Trump announced early Sunday.
“WE GOT HIM!
My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!”
Trump posted on Truth Social just after midnight.
President Trump announced the pilot’s rescue just after midnight, declaring ‘WE GOT HIM!’
Alex Brandon – Pool via CNP/Shutterstock
Crowds of Iranians take to the streets after reports of gunfire in Iran.
Mario Nawfal/X
The Air Force officer — a weapons specialist who has not yet been publicly identified — was one of two aboard an F-15E Strike Eagle shot down on Friday.
Both had ejected over southwestern Iran, triggering a massive high-risk rescue mission.
The weapons officer was injured during the ejection, but was still able to walk, a US official told Axios.
“He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine,” Trump said.
The crew member was recovered in a dangerous Saturday night operation following intense fighting near the crash site, as US forces carried out a complex operation deep inside Iranian territory.
No rescuers were injured during the massive, multi-domain operation involving hundreds of special operations troops, dozens of warplanes and helicopters and advanced intelligence capabilities spanning cyber and space, officials briefed on the operation told the New York Times.
“The fact that we were able to pull off both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies,” Trump added in his post.
A senior military official told the outlet that the mission was one of the most challenging and complex in the history of US special operations.
A missile explodes in Iran during a rescue mission for the missing Air Force pilot on April 4, 2026.
Mario Nawfal, /X
An ejection seat found in Iran after a US Air Force F-15E jet was shot down on April 3, 2026.
OSINTdefender/x
The airman evaded capture for up to a day in mountainous terrain, using survival training to move away from the wreckage and hide on elevated ground while signaling for rescue.
He had little more than a pistol as Iranian forces scoured the area and mobilized civilians to hunt him down, the Times reported.
“This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, but was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow Warfighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue,” Trump added.
The airman and the rescue team safely evacuated Iran and flew to Kuwait, where the injured airman could be treated, according to the Times.
A US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft.
US Airforce/AFP via Getty Images
Debris from the F-15E jet found by Iranians on April 3, 2026.
Iranian state media
Iranian forces had been searching for the pilot and at one point claimed he had been captured, though those assertions were never verified, with reports that local forces and even civilians had been mobilized to hunt for the airman.
Two US rescue helicopters were hit by enemy fire during the mission, injuring crew members, while an A-10 attack aircraft providing cover was also struck and later went down after the pilot safely ejected.
Both F-15E crew members are now safely recovered following the dramatic mission.
A US Air Force F-15E takes off for a combat flight from a base in the Middle East during Operation Epic Fury on March 26, 2026.
CENTCOM
The downed F-15E weapons systems officer relied on survival training to evade capture after ejecting over Iran, moving away from the wreckage and climbing to an elevated ridge to hide while signaling for rescue, according to reports.
He activated an emergency locator beacon and later established contact with US forces via encrypted radio, a detail reported by The Aviationist.
During the evasion, Iranian authorities and local actors mobilized to find him, with merchant groups offering a roughly $60,000 reward and officials urging civilians to assist in the search.
Black smoke seen rising into the air at the alleged site where the aircraft were shot down.
AP
The airman remained on the run for roughly 15 to 24 hours before being recovered, officials told Fox News.
“WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND!”
Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republican, Democrat, and everyone else, should be proud of and united around.
We truly have the best, most professional, and lethal Military in the History of the World,” he added.
News of the airman’s rescue was quickly celebrated.
Rep.
Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) hailed the operation as an “Easter Miracle” in a post on X, amplifying Trump’s post on Truth Social.
Analysis
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