CONFIRMED by US Officials: F-15E shot down over Iran

[Prairie Gates]

Blackhawks circling on site to locate pilots, who ejected. Allegedly.

This is from the Iranians, but there are pretty clear pictures of the jet debris (494 Fighter Group) and videos of the Blackhawks.

See this Reddit sub for more: https://www.reddit.com/r/war/

New York Times Confirmation:

Iran shot down a U.S. fighter jet over the country, U.S. officials and Iranian state-affiliated media said on Friday.

The fate of the plane’s crew was unclear, as American officials scrambled to mount a search and rescue operation before Iran could get to any survivors, officials said.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/03/world/iran-war-trump-oil/cedc271f-311d-5771-9b7a-702774768722?smid=url-share

[newdeal2]

1. If they have captured the pilot, watch out

Sounds like they are still capable even after POTUS declared victory many times.

[LeftInTX]

9. I'm pretty sure they will capture the pilot or the pilot will stay hidden.

Can't imagine the pilot escaping Iran on foot, but you never know.
Then the pilot will be a POW or hostage....
Or will Iran simply kill him, just because....

[obamanut2012]

10. Or her

[Jersey Devil]

14. F-15E has a crew of two, pilot and weapons officer

x

[Tim S]

2. Every success against our forces in Iran will be communicated to Russia

This “excursion” is unnecessarily showing Russia our military vulnerabilities without them taking any incoming fire.

[SheltieLover]

5. Communicated to or planned by?

[wnylib]

12. Both

[Prairie Gates]

7. I fear there's a learning curve for this sort of thing and the Iranians are learningq

There have been several close calls recently. The idea that their air defenses are completely dismantled is a false one and a dangerous one. They are getting better at targeting and tactics.

[Prairie Gates]

3. It's still not clear to me that this is real

Iranians have claimed many shootdowns, but this is the first with images of debris, and the videos of the extraction attempt (Blackhawks supported by refueling and covered by an F-35) look pretty real. Also, the Pentagon usually denies these claims immediately with a scoff. No word yet from CENTCOM on this one.

We'll see, I suppose.

[drray23]

4. There are also reports that one of the blackhawk

Conducting the search and rescue was shot down.

[Prairie Gates]

6. Updated to show that US officials confirmed this shootdown and pilot search underway

[S/V Loner]

8. Stars and Stripes...

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/middle_east/2026-04-03/fighter-jet-iran-shot-down-axios-21269279.html

[PCIntern]

11. So Kegsbreath doesn't much care for arcane Rules of Engagement, eh?

I don’t want to consider implications of that statement for a POW pilot.

[Snarkoleptic]

13. Friendly reminder Hegseth declared "no quarter" will be given to "our enemies" in Iran

https://www.commondreams.org/news/hegseth-no-quarter-international-law

Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth’s statement last week that “no quarter” will be given to “our enemies” in Iran—a declaration, in military parlance, that surrendering combatants will be executed rather than taken prisoner—constituted a clear violation of international law and a war crime.

These clowns are so busy posturing, they've placed American Service Personnel in grave danger.
SMH

[Prairie Gates]

15. Initial unconfirmed reports that one pilot has been rescued

More coming, I'm sure.