US Fighter Jet Crashes Over Iranian Airspace, Search and Rescue Operation Underway

Tehran. A US fighter jet has crashed over Iranian airspace, and the US military has rescued one of the crew members.

After Iranian media broadcast footage of the aircraft's wreckage, major US media outlets also confirmed on Friday that a US fighter jet had crashed over Iranian airspace.

Axios and CBS News, citing anonymous sources, reported that one of the two crew members on board has been rescued by US special forces, while the search for the second crew member is ongoing.

According to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, the F-15E fighter jet was carrying a pilot and a US weapons systems officer. CNN noted that the wreckage shown by Iranian media appears to be an F-15 rather than an F-35 stealth fighter.

US media reported that President Donald Trump has been briefed on the incident, but the White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment from AFP.

According to US media, US special forces are continuing search and rescue operations after losing the first aircraft inside Iran since President Trump ordered military action.

Citing photos and videos circulated on social media and Iranian media, major US outlets reported that US helicopters and other aircraft were seen flying at a lower altitude than the suspected crash site of the fighter jet.