US carries out emergency operation to search for pilots after Iran shoots down North American fighter jet; 1 soldier is rescued

Debris of US jet shot down by Iranian air defenses on April 3, 2026, according to Iranian media. Disclosure/Iran State TV The United States launched this Friday (3) an emergency operation — the first since the start of the war — to search for two pilots who were in a fighter jet shot down by Iran. ✅ Follow the g1 international news channel on WhatsApp One of the pilots has already been rescued, according to US Army sources told the North American press. The other remained missing until the last update of this report. ➡️ The attack on the fighter jet was announced earlier by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and, according to Iranian news agencies, the government of the region where it crashed asked local citizens to help the police find the pilots and offered a reward for the military. Confirmation about the downing of the fighter jet was given by US President Donald Trump hours later. In an interview with American broadcaster NBC News, he did not give details about the search and rescue efforts, but stated that the downing of the US fighter jet would not affect negotiations with Iran when asked if anything would change: “No, not at all. This is war. We are at war.” According to the American newspaper “The New York Times”, citing two American officials, a second United States Air Force aircraft also crashed in the Persian Gulf region this Friday, and the only pilot was rescued. In a statement through state media, the Iranian Army confirmed the attack: “An hour ago, an A-10 model aircraft, belonging to the attacking American-Zionist enemy, was targeted after being detected and engaged by the country’s integrated air defense network systems, in the southern waters, close to the Strait of Hormuz.” Two Blackhawk helicopters involved in the search were also hit by Iranian fire but managed to leave the country’s airspace, two US officials told Reuters news agency. Iran’s state news agency says American military personnel were injured. Trump makes new threats against Iran and Gulf countries report new attacks Model of downed fighter was an F-15E, says newspaper Citing sources from the American and Israeli governments, the American newspaper “New York Times” also says that the downed fighter was an F-15E Strike Eagle, which has room for two people. Earlier, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said the model was an F-35, considered the most advanced in the American fleet. The model, however, only holds one pilot.

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