The US military reached the servicemember known as Bravo, who was aboard the F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet shot down by Iran in central Iran on April 3, after an operation lasting 48 hours.
Bravo, who was seated in the aircraft’s rear cockpit and operated its weapons systems, said his parachute was damaged during the crash and that he hit the ground at high speed. Comparing the moment he was hit to being “struck by a freight train,” Bravo said he suffered injuries to his back, arm and shoulder.
Bravo said he was stranded between two hills surrounded by steep rocky terrain and climbed approximately 2,133 meters to find a safe location.
Bravo said that Iran searched for him during the two days he awaited rescue and that he tried to send messages to the United States using the communication equipment he had.
The aircraft’s first pilot was rescued during the first six hours of the operation launched after the crash. The US military reached the second servicemember at the end of a 48-hour effort.
Iran announced that the fighter jet had been shot down
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on April 3 that a fighter jet had been hit and downed by air defense systems in central Iran.
Officials speaking to the US media confirmed that the aircraft had crashed. The officials said one member of the crew had been rescued and that search-and-rescue efforts for the second person were continuing.
US President Donald Trump said on April 6 that the operation to rescue US servicemembers stranded inside Iran was extremely difficult. Trump said the decision was risky and raised the possibility that 100 people could lose their lives for the sake of two.
Two MC-130J aircraft assigned to the operation to rescue the second pilot were also destroyed because they became stranded.
