Breaking: U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle Goes Down Over Southern Iran; Search and Rescue Underway for Two Crew Members
U.S. officials have confirmed the aircraft is down and that search-and-rescue operations are actively underway for the two crew members. However, they have not attributed the cause of the loss or confirmed the IRGC’s claim of a shootdown.
Tommy Flynn
WASHINGTON – A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle was lost over southern Iran on April 3, 2026, according to multiple U.S. officials who confirmed the incident to CNN and CBS News.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sources claimed they shot down the aircraft using their air defenses and released photos of wreckage that appear consistent with an F-15E, including tail sections bearing markings of the 494th Fighter Squadron based at RAF Lakenheath, UK.
U.S. officials have confirmed the aircraft is down and that search-and-rescue operations are actively underway for the two crew members. However, they have not attributed the cause of the loss or confirmed the IRGC’s claim of a shootdown.
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the incident.
This marks the first confirmed loss of a manned U.S. combat aircraft since the conflict with Iran began on February 28, 2026. Earlier Iranian claims of shootdowns in March were denied by U.S. Central Command.
The Pentagon has not issued an official statement on the incident or its cause. The development represents a significant escalation in the ongoing air campaign.