The aircraft shot down in Iran turnd to be an F15: Latest information
Iranian state media and multiple international outlets reported that Iran’s air defenses shot down a United States Air Force F15E fighter jet over Iranian territory early April 3, 2026, marking what would be the first confirmed loss of a US crewed fighter in the current conflict.
According to Iran’s semiofficial media, footage and photos released following the incident show scattered wreckage and debris, including an ejection seat and parts consistent with an F15E Strike Eagle aircraft — contradicting initial claims by Tehran’s broadcasters that the downed jet was an F35.
Iranian outlets reported that the jet was engaged by air defense systems while flying over central or southwestern Iran.
Analysts who examined the released imagery said the wreckage aligned with F15E construction, including identifiable squadron markings linked to the US Air Force’s 494th Fighter Squadron.
US officials had not immediately confirmed publicly specific details of the engagement at the time of reporting, with the Pentagon, US Central Command, and White House refusing to comment on the type of aircraft or the circumstances of its loss in official statements.
US military units launched an extensive search and rescue operation to locate the two crewmembers believed to have been aboard the downed F15E.
Footage circulated on social platforms and reported by media outlets appeared to show C130 Hercules transport and HH 60 Pave Hawk helicopters flying low over Iranian desert regions consistent with rescue efforts.
Iranian state television urged local civilians in areas near the likely crash site to assist in finding any surviving pilots.
Semiofficial reports quoted broadcasters and news agencies offering rewards or incentives for civilians who locate and turn in US aircrew alive, framing the pilot(s) as “enemy combatants” and elevating the incident into a propaganda and recruitment effort within Iran.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and state media have previously claimed to have downed US aircraft, including an F35, during the ongoing hostilities; many of those earlier assertions were disputed or denied by US officials.
This latest occurrence — given the more detailed imagery and rescue response — appears to carry greater credibility, but key facts such as exact location, cause, and sequence of events remain under verification.
US military sources familiar with the matter have acknowledged off record that the jet was indeed brought down and that rescue forces were actively engaged in locating surviving crew members, though no formal casualty confirmations were released.
