Second US Air Force plane crashed in Persian Gulf region, New York Times reports
- By Reuters -
- Apr 04, 2026
A second US. Air Force combat plane crashed in the Persian Gulf region on Friday and its only pilot was then rescued, the New York Times reported, citing two US. officials.
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A US. fighter jet was shot down over Iran, and a search and rescue operation was underway for any survivors, a US official told Reuters on Friday.
One US. crew member has been rescued after Iran shot down a warplane on Friday, Israeli and US. media reported, as the war looked set to intensify with US. President Donald Trump threatening more attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Two US. sources told Reuters the plane was a two-seat F-15E and a search was underway.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said it was combing an area near where the plane came down in southwestern Iran region.
The regional governor promised a commendation for anyone who captured or killed the pilot.
Israeli media cited Israeli officials as saying one pilot had been rescued. US. broadcaster CBS News reported the same, citing two US. officials.
Iranian news agencies said US. helicopters were flying low on apparent search missions and carried videos of residents shooting at them.
The Iranian military earlier reported the downed aircraft was an F-35, a single-seater. The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The loss underlined the risk still faced by US. and Israeli aircraft over Iran, despite assertions by Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that their forces had total control of the skies.