The US has successfully rescued the missing crew member of its fighter jet that was shot down over Iran.
US president Donald Trump has given a statement in light of the news, after having sent American fighter jets to the Middle East as tensions heated up with Iran.
But as the US military has been attacking the nation, a nationwide hunt for a missing member of a downed jet was happening on the ground.
This led to the US forces having to step in to stop even the citizens in Iran from finding the person, whose empty evacuation seat was found abandoned near the wreckage.
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Iranian authorities and local actors were reportedly out in force to find him, with merchant groups offering a hefty reward of around £45384.07 for civilians to find him.
But he was able to be rescued first.
The missing weapons specialist had allegedly deployed his training tactics and covered his tracks after surviving more than a day in mountainous terrain in the Iranian climate.
He did this by activating an emergency locator beacon and getting into contact with the US forces via encrypted radio, per The Aviationist.
Calling it ‘one of the most daring search-and-rescue operations’ in US history, Trump posted on Truth Social early Sunday morning (5 April), that after two days of running, he was safe.
“WE GOT HIM! My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!” Trump posted.
“He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine,” Trump said.
The weapons specialist was one of two members missing after the F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down on 3 April, with both ejecting over southwestern Iran.
However, during the rescue attempt, two US transport planes became stranded in Iran and were destroyed by the US to keep sensitive technology away from the Iranians, while two new planes were deployed to complete the extraction.
According to Trump, the mission was pulled off without any injuries caused to the operations forces.
“The fact that we were able to pull off both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies,” Trump wrote, adding that the man had been monitored by his ‘Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow Warfighters’ as his rescue was being planned.
He was then flown to Kuwait, where he is being treated, reports the New York Times.
Topics: Iran, US News, Donald Trump
Britt Jones