The second pilot/WSO from the downed F-15 fighter jet on Friday was saved in an on-ground US rescue mission, which involved an epic and grueling battle with Iranian forces.
What an incredible miracle on the eve of Easter, thanks to our tireless heroes in uniform!
Author and journalist Toby Harnden, who spent almost 25 years working for British newspapers, primarily as a foreign correspondent, was the first to break the news.
The missing WSO from the shot-down USAF F-15E is now safe and back in American hands. An officer involved in monitoring the CSAR in southern Iran describing the aviator’s incredible tenacity: “He evaded up a 7k ridge. They’ve been schwackin’ dudes chasing him all day. Was nuts.”…
— Toby Harnden (@tobyharnden) April 5, 2026
Now, Jennifer Griffin of Fox News has confirmed the pilot is rescued and safe.
2nd American F15E crew member rescued and safe after complex rescue operation that began Friday morning, two senior US officials confirm to me.
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) April 5, 2026
The pilot and the members of the rescue team who extracted him from behind enemy lines in Iran are all safely out of Iran.
According to Griffin:
The Weapons Systems Officer ejected along with the pilot when their F15E Strike Eagle they were flying was struck Thursday night (early Friday local time) in southwest Iran.
The WSO used the SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) training to evade capture, hiding on an elevated ridge after hiking away from the wreckage and putting out an emergency beacon.) US Special Operations rescue forces to include PJs (United States Air Force Pararescuemen (PJs) and many layers of elite rescue forces took part in the complex, layered mission to both find the crew member and also keep the Iranian forces who were hunting the American weapons system operator at bay.
There are videos that have appeared from local eyewitnesses that show what appear to have been injured and dead Iranian members of the IRGC and Basij who were looking for the downed American crew member.
Fox has learned there was fighting on the ground but no Americans killed during the operation. “It was a very complex operation to retrieve the downed service member,” a well placed source briefed on the operation told me. Many different branches of the US military were involved in the rescue.
Fox News can confirm the A10 Warthog that crashed Friday was involved in providing cover for the rescue teams searching for the pilot. That A10 crashed in Kuwait (first reported by ABC Friday) but the A10 pilot managed to eject safely and was rescued.
There was destruction of aircraft which have sensitive equipment on board, I am told, all part of this complex CSAR (Combat Search and Rescue) mission. The F15E was pretty much destroyed on impact.
Two rescue helicopters were hit by enemy fire on Friday and crew members onboard were injured by enemy fire but managed to make it out of Iran. There were a lot of elements to this rescue, I am told.
Fox News can confirm that the 2nd crew member of the downed F15E fighter jet has been rescued and he and the members of the rescue team that extracted him from behind enemy lines in Iran are all safely out of Iran. That according to two senior US officials and multiple well… https://t.co/NKsLfayT53
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) April 5, 2026
Independent journalist Nick Sortor has confirmed the news as well:
BREAKING: After an INCREDIBLY dangerous mission by US Special Forces, our downed F-15 WSO has been successfully RESCUED and EXFILTRATED following an intense firefight, a US official confirms to me
These guys are absolute HEROES.
GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS! pic.twitter.com/HU9k6xFkf2
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 5, 2026
Here is a rough recap of how the operation unfolded live on X:
Independent reporter Mario Nawfal first revealed that an on-the-ground military operation and rescue mission are currently underway in southwest Iran after the second pilot was found.
THE SECOND PILOT HAS BEEN LOCATED. EVACUATION IN PROGRESS
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 4, 2026
BREAKING: Air Force Pararescue Jumpers mounting a live rescue operation inside Iran right now.
Pave Hawks reportedly airborne over Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces.
Heavy clashes ongoing.
Source: @officialrnintel https://t.co/UcW9lZdNaL pic.twitter.com/EBeDn3dnez
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 4, 2026
The location is in the southwestern city of Kohgiluyeh, in the Boyer-Ahmad province.
It been confirm that the south west city is Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province https://t.co/64szC0ggqI
— USA VS IRAN WAR UPDATE (@NnalueChikelu) April 4, 2026
It was a race against time as civilians and Iranian security forces rushed towards the area.
BREAKING: Video from Southwestern Iran appears to show civilians and security forces rushing towards the area believed to be where the US military is attempting to rescue our F-15 crew member
No update on our WSO’s status yet.
It’s a race against the clock. pic.twitter.com/ZNUvqsGRIp
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 5, 2026
Iranian state media claimed that repeated heavy airstrikes on Basij and IRGC convoys in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad prevented Iranian forces from reaching the pilot.
JUST IN:
Iranian state media claims U.S. A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft repeatedly struck Basij and IRGC convoys in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad as they attempted to capture a downed U.S. pilot. Heavy U.S. strikes reportedly prevented them from reaching the pilot.
Stay connected,… pic.twitter.com/qZip3noDIX
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) April 5, 2026
Another video from Southwest Iran shows plainclothes Basijis mourning the loss of several Iranian regime terrorists in the mountains.
BREAKING:
Video from southwest Iran.
Plainclothes basijis just found several of their fellow regime thugs killed in the mountains, probably by American forces.
“They’re soldiers. Plainclothes. Oh God. Oh Hossein. They killed them.”
Complete panic. pic.twitter.com/ymg55GEJCe
— ︎ (@NiohBerg) April 5, 2026
Intense clashes continued between the US and Iranian forces.
BREAKING: US government sources tell me INTENSE clashes are underway between US and Iranian forces in Southwestern Iran related to rescue operations for our downed F-15 crew member
It is NOT believed that he’s been extracted yet
But US forces are going hard. Keep praying pic.twitter.com/JJTcPeM5bw
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 5, 2026
As TGP’s Jordan Conradson reported, two more US military aircraft were downed in the Middle East on Friday, in addition to an F-15E Strike Eagle that crashed earlier.
An A-10 Warthog reportedly went down contemporaneously with the crash of the F-15, according to the New York Times.
While the first F-15 pilot was rescued, the search for the second continued. Iranian officials had promised a reward for his capture.
Additionally, a Black Hawk helicopter was hit by Iran. Preliminary reports suggest that the Blackhawk was hit during search-and-rescue operations but landed safely.
It was later reported that two helicopters were struck by Iranian fire during the search and rescue, but all crew members are safe.
The post BREAKING: AN EASTER MIRACLE! Second Pilot from Downed F-15 Fighter Jet RESCUED In Iran By U.S. Forces Following BRUTAL and INTENSE Fight With Iranian Terrorists (VIDEOS) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.