A frantic search continued for a missing pilot two days after Iran shot down a US warplane – a two-seat F-15E jet – with Tehran deploying “popular forces” and “tribesmen” alongside military forces in efforts to find the airman.
The US F-15E Strike Eagle, a $31.1 million aircraft (about Rs 289 crore), carried a pilot and weapons system officer. While one of them was rescued, it is unclear who is missing. Iran also shot down another plane, an A-10 Warthog fighter aircraft, which costs about $18.8 million (around Rs 174 crore), over Kuwait. The pilot, however, ejected.
The incidents marked the first known combat loss of US crewed aircraft in the current conflict. The last time an American fighter jet was shot down by enemy fire was reportedly during the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.
As the US forces searched for the pilot, videos posted on social media showed the Iranian police firing at a US helicopter in southwestern Iran. Two US Black Hawk helicopters were hit by the strikes, but made it out of the Iranian space immediately.
F-15E Jet
Photo Credit: NDTV
Iran searching for missing US airman
The Iranian army launched a massive search operation for the missing US pilot and issued a $60,000 reward to any citizen who provided information leading to the missing US airman. Iran has also deployed many “popular forces” and “tribesmen” apart from the military forces to locate the pilot, reported news agency AFP, citing local media.
An Iranian media outlet said that the F-15E warplane was targeted over central Iran and may have gone down in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province.
According to an Iranian media, Tasnim News, the US is “trying to bomb and kill its own pilot in Iran”.
Trump’s silence, then a warning
Trump was asked about the search-and-rescue operations to locate the missing pilot, but declined to discuss it. According to Trump, it is a “sensitive military matter”.
However, he said that the current developments would not impact the ongoing negotiations with Iran, reported NBC News.
Shortly after, Trump warned Iran that it had 48 hours to either “make a deal” or “open up the Strait of Hormuz” or face severe consequences.
How US Trains Pilots To Survive, Evade Capture After Being Shot Down
“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!”, he wrote on Truth Social.
Trump, on March 26, had extended his deadline to April 6 for Tehran to strike a deal with Washington or face more attacks at Iran’s request, even though the Islamic Republic has dismissed a US proposal to end the conflict as “one-sided and unfair.”
Iran, however, had brushed aside Trump’s threat, calling the ultimatum a “helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action”.