Daring Rescue of US Crew Downed in Iran Involved Dozens of Aircraft and Deception

President Trump and military leaders detailed the complex operation to recover the pilots from enemy territory.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:37pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting depicting the fractured silhouette of a military helicopter in flight, with overlapping geometric shapes and brushstrokes in shades of gray, blue, and green, conveying the sense of a high-stakes rescue mission in hostile territory.The complex rescue operation involved dozens of aircraft and personnel, as well as covert tactics to outmaneuver Iranian forces.NYC Today

The United States relied on dozens of aircraft, hundreds of personnel, secret CIA technology, and subterfuge to rescue a two-man fighter jet crew downed deep inside Iran, a risky mission that President Donald Trump and his top defense aides detailed in a news conference at the White House.

Why it matters

The rescue operation highlights the military's capabilities in conducting high-risk missions to recover personnel in hostile territory, as well as the use of advanced technology and deception tactics to outmaneuver the enemy.

The details

The search and rescue effort began with helicopters and other aircraft flying low for seven hours, 'at times facing very, very heavy enemy fire.' An A-10 Warthog supporting the operation was hit by enemy fire but continued fighting before safely ejecting. After rescuing the F-15 pilot, the HH-60 Jolly Green II helicopters were 'engaged by every single person in Iran who had a small-arms weapon.' The weapon systems officer was more difficult to locate, but the CIA used 'exquisite technologies' and a deception operation to find him in a mountainous region, eventually extracting him with smaller, faster aircraft.

  • The fighter jet was downed late Thursday.
  • The F-15 pilot was rescued within hours of the incident.
  • The weapon systems officer was rescued nearly two days later.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who detailed the rescue operation in a news conference.

Gen. Dan Caine

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who provided additional details about the military's role in the rescue.

John Ratcliffe

The Director of the CIA who discussed the agency's use of advanced technology and deception tactics to locate the missing weapon systems officer.

Pete Hegseth

The U.S. Secretary of Defense who emphasized the unrelenting nature of the rescue mission.

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What they’re saying

“From the moment our pilots went down, our mission was unblinking. The call never dropped. The meeting never stopped, the planning never ceased.”

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense

“We were bringing them all over, and a lot of it was subterfuge. We wanted to have them think he was in a different location.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

What’s next

The Pentagon is expected to provide additional details about the rescue operation in the coming days, including the specific number of personnel and aircraft involved.

The takeaway

This daring rescue mission showcases the U.S. military's ability to conduct high-risk operations in hostile territory, leveraging advanced technology, coordination across agencies, and deception tactics to successfully recover personnel and deny sensitive information to the enemy.