U.S. fighter jet shot down in Iran: One crew member rescued, search for other ongoing

Axios-April3rd 2026

By Barak Ravid

One of two crew members of a U.S. fighter jet that was shot down over Iran was located and rescued by U.S. special forces, and the search for the second is ongoing, an Israeli official and a second source with knowledge of the situation told Axios.

The latest: Iran is also hunting for the crew and has asked civilians in the area to join the search, offering a reward if they’re found.

• Israel is helping the U.S. with intelligence in order to locate the other crew member, the Israeli official said.

How it happened: The two crew members of the F-15 fighter jet ejected safely after being struck by Iranian fire, the sources said.

• U.S. special forces located one of the crew members and rescued him, alive, on Iranian territory.
• An Israeli official said Israel cancelled planned strikes in Iran so as not to hamper the search and rescue efforts.
• Iranian media was first to report that a jet had been shot down. State TV told Iranians that anyone who located the U.S. troops would be rewarded by the government.

The big picture: This is the first time since the beginning of the war that a U.S. jet was downed by enemy fire.

• White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios “the President has been briefed.”