Trump Boasts of Daring Rescue After US F-15 Shot Down—But Iran Claims 4 Aircraft Destroyed

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Apr 6, 2026 10:52 PM US President Donald Trump on Monday said that approximately 200 men were deployed to pick up the US Air Force officer who was stranded in Iran after his fighter jet was struck down on Friday during a Operation Epic Fury mission.
The US President said the rescue mission involved 155 aircraft, including 4 bombers, 64 fighters, 48 refueling tankers, and 13 rescue aircraft, among other assets. He added that the aerial assets sent for the extraction were flying in extremely low altitudes and were fired at.
Trump detailed that the officer was wounded, and reaffirmed that the US military leaves no one behind. “I ordered the American armed forces to do whatever was necessary to bring our brave warriors back home,” Trump told reporters.
Trump acknowledges ‘lucky shot’
Earlier on Monday, on the sidelines of the White House Easter Egg Roll, Trump said Iran was able to down a US aircraft with a “lucky shot” during the operation. He also said “we have some helicopters with a lot of bullet holes in them right now probably”.
The president also added that the regime had a “lucky shot” when it downed a US F-15 fighter jet on Friday, but said the rescue of the airman who sustained injuries was “incredible.”
USAF officer rescue operation
On Sunday, Donald Trump announced that the American military successfully conducted the rescue operation. While the pilot of the F-15E Strike Eagle jet was immediately rescued, the Colonel-ranked weapons systems officer went missing.
The extraction took place alongside the rescue of a jet pilot on Saturday. Trump said the two military personnel were rescued separately, from deep within Iranian territory.Story continues below this ad
According to an NYT report, hundreds of special forces troops, dozens of US warplanes, and helicopters were mobilised during the rescue mission of the Colonel.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: “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.”
According to an initial NYT, during the rescue of the weapons officer, two US transport planes, meant to carry the personnel to safety, got stuck at a remote base, prompting the personnel to blow the aircraft up.
However, later in the day, the Unified Command of the Iranian Armed Forces said that two C-130 planes and two Blackhawk helicopters were downed south of Isfahan during the rescue operation.
Expand

The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis.

A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students.

All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence.

Core Team

The Express Global Desk is led a team of experienced journals and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy:

Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership.

Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage.

Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. … Read More

Stay updated with the latest – Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd