US Planes Downed in Iran War: What We Know So Far (VIDEOS/PHOTOS)

(SeaPRwire) –   Media reports indicate an F-15E fighter and an A-10 attack aircraft were lost in two distinct incidents on Friday

According to US media outlets, two American military planes were destroyed by Iranian defenses on Friday, as US and Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic persist. This event has triggered a dangerous search-and-rescue operation deep inside Iran.

The aircraft losses happened within 48 hours of US President Donald Trump declaring that Iran is “beaten and completely decimated” and possesses “no anti-aircraft equipment,” escalating the conflict that is already facing domestic opposition. Iranian officials, in contrast, have labeled the incident a “black day” for the US military, as Tehran works to capture the downed crew.

Here is the current information.

What happened?

US media report that on Friday, a US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle from the 494th Fighter Squadron, which is part of the 48th Fighter Wing typically stationed in Suffolk, England, was shot down over central Iran during a combat mission.

Both crew members – the pilot and the weapons systems officer – ejected successfully. US special forces were able to rescue one of them alive from within Iran.

The hunt for the second crew member is ongoing. NBC News, citing sources, reported that US helicopters sent for the rescue came under Iranian fire. The Washington Post stated that US personnel on the helicopters were injured, but both aircraft made it back to their base safely.

Videos on social media appear to show Iranian militiamen firing small arms at two US helicopters.

Additionally, an A-10 Thunderbolt II, a single-seat ground-attack plane, was hit by Iranian fire while assisting in the search-and-rescue operation. The pilot flew the damaged aircraft out of Iranian airspace before ejecting over Kuwait, where he was later found.

What does the US say?

The Pentagon and CENTCOM have not yet replied to US media requests for comment. However, The Hill reports that the Pentagon informed the House Armed Services Committee about the F-15E loss.

Trump stated that the jet’s destruction would not impact peace talks with Iran – negotiations that Tehran denies are happening at all.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he is “praying for the safe return of the crew aboard the fighter jet and all of those working to rescue them in these dangerous conditions.”

Former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney told ABC News that while aircraft losses over enemy territory were expected, the situation is “disturbing.”

“It potentially represents a major escalation. If the missing crew member remains missing, huge political pressure in the United States to do anything to find that person.”

What does Iran say?

Iranian media first reported the downed plane was an F-35 stealth fighter, a claim later disputed by US media and open-source intelligence experts.

The Iranian military asserted that, in addition to the two aircraft, they destroyed five drones and missiles, calling it a “black day” for the US and Israel. Tehran also said a “new advanced” air defense system was used to eliminate the aircraft, demonstrating its forces’ continued combat readiness.

Iranian state television has urged citizens to capture the surviving US aircrew, with local authorities offering a reward of approximately $60,000 for anyone who turns over the American service members alive.

Footage on social media appears to show armed local residents carrying an Iranian flag and heading to the mountains for their own search operation, while another video shows debris from the aircraft.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf ridiculed the US, stating, “after defeating Iran 37 times in a row, this brilliant no-strategy war they started has now been downgraded from ‘regime change’ to ‘Hey! Can anyone find our pilots? Please?’”

Iranian media has also published images of a severely damaged CH-47 helicopter in Kuwait, claiming it was struck by a drone.

Did the US lose planes in the Iran war before this incident?

Friday’s incident was the first time during the US-Israeli campaign that Iran has conclusively shot down a manned US plane. However, the US had already suffered other aircraft losses.

On March 1, soon after the conflict began, three F-15E Strike Eagles were shot down over Kuwait by Kuwaiti F/A-18 jets in what CENTCOM described as an “apparent friendly fire incident.” All crew members ejected safely.

On March 12, two KC-135 Stratotanker refueling planes collided mid-air over western Iraq. One aircraft crashed, resulting in the deaths of all six crew members. CENTCOM confirmed the incident “was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”

On March 19, a US F-35 fighter was struck by Iranian ground fire during a mission. The pilot, wounded by shrapnel, succeeded in landing the plane at a US air base in the region.

On March 27, an Iranian attack on a Saudi Arabian air base destroyed an E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control aircraft, with photographs showing the $500 million plane broken in two.