US F-15E Strike Eagle Shot Down Over Iran During Operation Epic Fury, Search-and-Rescue Underway
A United States F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet has been shot down over Iran, marking the first time a manned U.S. aircraft has been brought down by enemy fire during Operation Epic Fury.
The Incident
- Aircraft: F-15E Strike Eagle
- Status: Shot down, search-and-rescue operation underway
- Confirmation: Two U.S. officials confirmed to Reuters
- Crew: Unknown if survived; search for pilots ongoing
- Iran response: Officials calling for capture of surviving crew members
Search and Rescue
Video on social media showed:
- An HC-130 refueling HH-60G Pave Hawks over Iran
- Multi-aircraft SAR effort in progress
Iranian state media shared images of aircraft debris, initially claiming an F-35 was downed — but tailfin images show it was an F-15E.
Context: Operation Epic Fury Casualties
| Date | Event | Casualties |
|---|---|---|
| March 1 | 3 F-15s shot down (friendly fire by Kuwait) | 0 (all 6 crew recovered) |
| March 12 | KC-135 crash in Iraq | 6 killed |
| March 19 | F-35 hit by enemy fire | 0 (emergency landing) |
| April 3 | F-15E shot down | Unknown |
Total: 13 U.S. service members killed, 348 wounded as of March 31.
Escalating Stakes
The prospect of U.S. pilots alive and on the run inside Iran during an ongoing conflict "greatly raises the stakes," with Iranian officials offering rewards for the capture or killing of crew members.
CENTCOM had denied previous IRGC claims of downing U.S. aircraft, calling them false. This appears to be the first confirmed shoot-down.