CIA Ran Deception Effort to Rescue Downed Pilot, Officials Say

A-10 Warthog was hit during the mission to recover the F-15E fighter jet pilot, Joint Chiefs chairman confirms.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:40am

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A fragmented, abstract painting of an A-10 Warthog aircraft, its wings and fuselage repeated in overlapping geometric shapes and waves of dark grey, olive drab, and burnt orange, conveying the speed and intensity of the rescue mission.A fractured, kinetic painting captures the chaos and danger of the A-10 Warthog's role in the daring rescue mission over Iran.NYC Today

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that an A-10 Warthog was part of a rescue mission to recover the pilot of an F-15E fighter jet that was shot down over Iran. The A-10 was hit several times but the pilot managed to fly it out of Iranian airspace before ejecting. CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the agency used a mix of 'human assets' and 'exquisite technologies' to track the downed aviator's location and ran a deception effort to keep Iranian forces from finding him.

Why it matters

The downing of the U.S. aircraft and the subsequent rescue mission highlight the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, as well as the risks and complexities involved in such operations. The CIA's role in the rescue effort also underscores the agency's capabilities in intelligence gathering and covert operations.

The details

According to Caine, the A-10 Warthog was part of a 'sandy' mission, in which an attack aircraft flies between a rescue team and hostile forces. The low-flying A-10 was hit several times as it supported the effort to recover the pilot of the downed F-15E. Despite the damage, the A-10's pilot was able to fly the aircraft out of Iranian airspace before ejecting over friendly territory.

  • The F-15E fighter jet was shot down on Friday.
  • The A-10 Warthog was part of the rescue mission that took place on Friday.
  • The downed aviator was rescued almost two days later.

The players

Gen. Dan Caine

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

John Ratcliffe

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

President Trump

The President of the United States.

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What they’re saying

“They shot it and it got sucked in right by the engine.”

— President Trump

“The effort to find the airman was 'comparable to hunting for a single grain of sand in the middle of a desert.'”

— John Ratcliffe, CIA Director

What’s next

The journalist who first reported on the rescue mission could face jail time, according to President Trump's threat.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, as well as the risks and complexities involved in military rescue operations. The CIA's role in the rescue effort also demonstrates the agency's capabilities in intelligence gathering and covert operations.