We got him: Trump says missing pilot of downed F-15 safely rescued from Iran

The second US pilot shot down over Iran has been rescued and is now safely out of the country, a government official told Al Jazeera on Sunday, capping one of the most complex search-and-rescue missions carried out by American forces in enemy territory in decades.

“We got him,” US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social, confirming that the second crew member from the downed F-15E fighter jet has been rescued and is “safe and sound”.

“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,” he wrote.

Iranian officials had claimed that the US military’s F-15E Strike Eagle was brought down by its air defences, in the first such incident since the war began five weeks ago. Both the American and Iranian military launched a frantic search to find the crew members: the former aiming to bring them to safety, and the latter hoping to use them as leverage.

While one pilot was quickly rescued, the search for the other continued. A US government source told Al Jazeera on Sunday that the missing crew member was located overnight, triggering a rescue attempt that led to a fierce firefight.

There was no confirmation that US forces had successfully evacuated the crew members to safety.

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