Iran Shoots Down Two US Military Aircraft in One Day; Trump: No Impact on Negotiations
On the 3rd, Iran announced that it had shot down a U.S. military fighter jet and an attack aircraft. The U.S. confirmed that American forces rescued one fighter pilot and are searching for another pilot. U.S. media reported that the attack aircraft had crashed, and its pilot was rescued; additionally, two U.S. helicopters involved in the rescue were hit by Iran, injuring the crew members.
U.S. President Trump stated in a phone interview with NBC on the 3rd that Iran's shooting down of U.S. military aircraft would not affect negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
Earlier that day, a U.S. Air Force F-15E "Strike Eagle" dual-seat fighter jet was shot down over Iran. According to media from Gulf countries, at least two HH-60 "Pave Hawk" rescue helicopters, one HC-130J "Combat King II" long-range search and rescue aircraft providing air refueling for the former, and one MQ-9 "Reaper" drone entered Iranian territory to conduct the rescue, locating and rescuing one pilot who ejected. The whereabouts of the other pilot remain unknown, and the search is ongoing.
Israel's public broadcasting company reported that Israel provided intelligence to the U.S. to help locate the pilot, and the fighter jet was shot down in Khuzestan Province, which borders Iraq in western Iran. The Israeli military suspended airstrikes in the relevant areas during this time.
According to CBS News, citing U.S. officials, two helicopters, including the one carrying the rescued pilot, were fired upon by Iranian ground light weapons during their return flight, resulting in several crew members sustaining minor injuries. Both helicopters ultimately landed safely.
The Iranian military stated that on the same day, Iranian air defense forces also shot down a U.S. A-10 "Warthog" attack aircraft near the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. media reported that this single-seat aircraft was hit while providing support for the aforementioned rescue operation, and the pilot flew the damaged aircraft into Kuwaiti airspace, ejected, and the aircraft crashed.
Some U.S. media pointed out that the U.S. military lost two aircraft in one day, less than 48 hours after Trump claimed in a nationwide televised address that military operations against Iran had achieved "rapid, decisive, and overwhelming victory."
In early March, three "Strike Eagle" fighter jets of the U.S. military crashed in Kuwait after being "accidentally shot down by friendly forces," with all six pilots surviving. (Reporters: Huang Qiang, Xu Jianmei, Pang Xinyi, Wang Zhuolun, Zhao Yining; Video: Sun Shuo)
Iran shot down two U.S. military aircraft on March 3, including an F-15E and an A-10, resulting in one pilot rescued and another missing. U.S. helicopters involved in the rescue were also targeted by Iranian fire, causing injuries to crew members. President Trump asserted that these incidents would not impact ongoing negotiations with Iran.
- Iran shot down a U.S. F-15E fighter jet and an A-10 attack aircraft on March 3.
- One pilot was rescued while another remains missing.
- Two U.S. helicopters involved in the rescue were also hit by Iranian fire, injuring crew members.
- Israeli intelligence assisted the U.S. in locating the missing pilot.
- President Trump stated that the incidents would not affect negotiations with Iran.