Search for pilot of downed U.S. fighter jet enters second day

The search for the pilot of a U.S. fighter jet that went down over Iran entered its second day on Saturday, as Iranian officials denied reports that the American crew member has been detained.

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U.S. forces rescued one pilot of a two-seat F-15E Strike Eagle that was shot down over Iran Friday, according to a U.S. official. The second crew member remains missing.

On Saturday, Iranian local officials from one of the southern provinces and the regional leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps denied reports that the second pilot had been found and detained, Iran’s semiofficial Mehr news agency reported. On Friday, Iranian officials issued a public plea for locals to find the American crew member, offering a reward equivalent to $60,000, according to official and semi-official Iranian news organizations.

The loss of the American aircraft marks the first time a U.S. fighter jet has been downed in combat in decades. It also challenges Pentagon and White House’s claims that thousands of U.S. and Israeli strikes have wiped out Iran’s missile capabilities.

Iranian firepower also struck a U.S. aircraft dispatched to support the search and rescue mission. That aircraft — a single-seat A-10 Thunderbolt, known as the Warthog — crashed in Kuwaiti airspace after its pilot ejected safely, a U.S. official told NBC News. U.S. military helicopters were also hit by Iranian firepower, but no crew members were injured in the attack.

Iranian media published images on Telegram purporting to show debris from the downed F-15E. The Pentagon has not confirmed the loss of the aircraft.

In a brief phone call on Friday, President Trump declined to discuss specifics of the rescue operation. When asked if the downing of the jet would negatively affect negotiations to end the war, the president said: “No, not at all. No, it’s war.”

Trump has not commented on the downed jet in public. On Saturday, however, he appeared to remind Iran of a looming deadline to meet U.S. demands, which he set last week on Truth Social.

“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” Trump wrote. “Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them.” He also made separate references to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical Middle Eastern waterway for global oil exports.

Friday’s incident renewed scrutiny about Trump’s repeated claims that the U.S. and Israeli militaries have wiped out Iran’s missile capabilities and have complete control over the Iranian airspace. Iranian officials appeared to acknowledge the challenge directly Saturday.

“The enemy should know that we possess advanced air defence systems developed by the talented and distinguished youth of this country, which are being unveiled one after another in real operational conditions,” an Iranian military spokesperson said in a statement on Saturday. “We will certainly achieve full control over our skies and further demonstrate the weakness and humiliation of the enemy to the world.”

Trump said Wednesday in a nationally televised address that the war would conclude within roughly two to three weeks, while also threatening to strike Iran “back to the Stone Ages” if it does not open the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. military has simultaneously mobilized thousands of additional troops to the region.

Iran says there is no direct negotiation with U.S. counterparts. The U.S. and Israel have wiped out much of Iran’s government and military leadership — including Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — raising questions about who would lead negotiations on behalf of Iran.

The war entered its 36th day Saturday. More than a dozen American service members have been killed since U.S. and Israeli forces launched a joint offensive on Iran.