US fighter jet down in Iran: 1 crew member rescued as search continues, officials say

## Summary
US fighter jet down in Iran: 1 crew member rescued as search continues, officials say Trump, just days ago, had said Tehran had "no anti-aircraft equipment." By Luis Martinez and Steven Beynon April 3, 2026, 1:21 PM A U.S. fighter jet appears to have been shot down by Iran over Iranian territory, American officials confirmed to ABC News, marking a new and potentially dangerous point in the conflict. A photo released by Iranian state media that could not be independently verified by ABC News shows a piece of a U.S. fighter jet that has been shot down by Iran over Iranian territory. Iran State Media A photo released by Iranian state media that could not be independently verified by ABC News shows a piece of a U.S. fighter jet that has been shot down by Iran over Iranian territory. Iran State Media A photo released by Iranian state media that could not be independently verified by ABC News shows a piece of a U.S. fighter jet that has been shot down by Iran over Iranian territory.

## Article Content
US fighter jet down in Iran: 1 crew member rescued as search continues, officials say
Trump, just days ago, had said Tehran had "no anti-aircraft equipment."
By
Luis Martinez
and
Steven Beynon
April 3, 2026, 1:21 PM
A U.S. fighter jet appears to have been shot down by Iran over Iranian territory, American officials confirmed to ABC News,
marking a new and potentially dangerous point in the conflict.
One crew member aboard the downed two-seater F-15E has been rescued, according to a U.S. official. The
status of the other crew member is unknown, according to the official.
Combat search and rescue missions have become relatively rare for U.S. forces after more than a generation of near-total air dominance, with American aircraft typically operating with limited threats to aircraft in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Related
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The early indications that the U.S. fighter was brought down by enemy fire would mark the first time Iran has successfully downed a manned American aircraft in the war, which started in February.
There are photos of the fighter that were released by Iranian state media and could not be independently verified by ABC News.
A photo released by Iranian state media that could not be independently verified by ABC News shows a piece of a U.S. fighter jet that has been shot down by Iran over Iranian territory.
Iran State Media
A photo released by Iranian state media that could not be independently verified by ABC News shows a piece of a U.S. fighter jet that has been shot down by Iran over Iranian territory.
Iran State Media
A photo released by Iranian state media that could not be independently verified by ABC News shows a piece of a U.S. fighter jet that has been shot down by Iran over Iranian territory.
Iran State Media
A photo released by Iranian state media that could not be independently verified by ABC News shows a piece of a U.S. fighter jet that has been shot down by Iran over Iranian territory.
Iran State Media
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the matter, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
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In late March, an American F-18 fighter jet narrowly dodged an Iranian surface-to-air missile, according to a U.S. official. Earlier that month, an American F-35, the Pentagon’s most advanced stealth fighter jet, had to make an emergency landing after being struck by Iranian fire. Three F-15s were also brought down over Kuwait in a friendly fire episode earlier in the war, though all six pilots ejected safely, according to U.S. officials.
The incident comes after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and other U.S. officials have said that Iran's military capabilities have been severely crippled and that the U.S. has "total air dominance" over Iran.
Trump, in a primetime address to the nation earlier this week, said the U.S. was "nearing completion" of its military objectives and that Tehran's anti-aircraft abilities had been decimated.
"We’ve done all of it. Their navy is gone. Their air force is gone. Their missiles are just about used up or beaten," Trump said in his speech on Wednesday night.
"They have no anti-aircraft equipment," Trump added in his remarks. "Their radar is 100% annihilated. We are unstoppable as a military force."
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has made a number of false claims about US aircraft being downed but the US has pushed back on those.
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Iran has maintained at least some ability to continue with attacks targeting U.S. facilities in the Middle East and other countries in the region, wounding more than 300 U.S. service members, according to U.S. officials. The number of wounded has increased at a relatively steady rate each week, data reviewed by ABC News shows. Thirteen service members have been killed in action since the war began five weeks ago, according to U.S. Central Command.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
N/A

### Implications
- There are photos of the fighter that were released by Iranian state media and could not be independently verified by ABC News.
- A photo released by Iranian state media that could not be independently verified by ABC News shows a piece of a U.S. fighter jet that has been shot down by Iran over Iranian territory.
- Iran State Media A photo released by Iranian state media that could not be independently verified by ABC News shows a piece of a U.S. fighter jet that has been shot down by Iran over Iranian territory.
- Iran State Media A photo released by Iranian state media that could not be independently verified by ABC News shows a piece of a U.S. fighter jet that has been shot down by Iran over Iranian territory.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers iran, iranian, fighter topics. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 781.