US Rescues Crew Member After Fighter Jet Downed Over Iran: Reports

A crew member from a US fighter jet shot down over Iran on Friday has been rescued by American forces, according to a report by CBS News citing US officials. The development comes amid conflicting accounts from Iran regarding the fate of those on board the aircraft.

Earlier, Iranian authorities had called on residents in the country’s rugged southwest to help locate the crew members. State television aired visuals purportedly showing the wreckage of the downed jet, including twisted metal debris loaded onto a vehicle. Officials in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province urged locals, including nomadic communities, to assist in the search operation, even offering rewards for capturing any surviving crew.

Iran’s Fars news agency reported that military teams had launched a search mission to track down the pilot after the aircraft was struck earlier in the day. However, there has been no immediate official confirmation or detailed response from the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees military operations in the region.

If confirmed, the incident would mark the first known case of a US fighter jet being downed within Iranian territory since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28.

The situation underscores the rapidly escalating tensions in the region, with both sides issuing competing narratives over the incident. While Iranian media highlighted local search efforts, US officials have focused on confirming the successful rescue of at least one crew member, leaving several details surrounding the episode unclear.