The US loses two fighter jets in one day, one of them over Iranian territory. Two crew members were brought to safety, one is still missing. Both the USA and Iran are looking for him.
April 4, 2026, 3:22 p.mApril 4, 2026, 3:29 p.m
What happened?
The USA lost two fighter jets on the same day: According to the US government, an F-15E fighter plane was shot down by Iranian forces over Iranian territory. There were two crew members on board: a pilot was rescued on Iranian soil, the second crew member is still missing. There are currently no details about the exact nature of the crash or the location of the crash. However, two Black Hawk helicopters were hit by Iran during the rescue operation.
The F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine air superiority fighter.Image: keystone
The second A-10 Warthog aircraft crashed near the Persian Gulf. The pilot was able to escape using the ejector seat, landed on Iranian territory and was brought to safety. It is unclear whether the crash was caused by enemy fire or a technical defect. Iranian state media claim the plane was hit by Iranian air defense systems.
The A-10 has been the United States’ primary ground attack aircraft since 1975.Image: AP
What are the consequences of the crashes?
According to an expert, the search for the missing crew member of a downed fighter jet in Iran is a “critical mission” for the USA that could significantly influence the attitude of the US population to the war. If Iran finds the crew member first, it would be “a big win” for Tehran, Laurel Rapp, director of the North America program at the Chatham House think tank, told the BBC.
Iran would then have “very strong leverage”. State-affiliated broadcasters in Iran have called for a search for the missing crew member. A reward was also reportedly offered for being taken alive. The bounty is said to be up to 100,000 US dollars, or just under 80,000 francs. The search is underway in the provinces of Kohgiluye and Boyer Ahmad.
The incidents show that despite months of air offensives by the USA and Israel, Iran is still militarily capable of threatening the attackers. This development puts pressure on President Trump, who has repeatedly emphasized the air superiority of the US armed forces and the extensive neutralization of Iranian air and missile defenses.
At the same time, the incidents occur parallel to difficult negotiations: Donald Trump, however, stated that the incidents would have no impact on possible negotiations with Iran. «No, not at all. It’s war,” he said in a brief telephone interview, according to NBC News.
What is Israel doing?
According to media reports, Israel has not yet publicly announced whether it is participating in the search for the missing person. As the New York Times Reportedly, however, attacks in the region where the search is being carried out are said to have stopped. Information would also be exchanged.
The open questions
In addition to the question of how the crashes occurred and where they occurred, it is also unclear whether the missing crew member is even alive. It is difficult to get reliable information. That’s how loud it should be BBC There was a rumor that the missing person had now been arrested. However, Iran later denied this. At the same time, however, it is also denied that the pilot was rescued by the USA on Iranian soil. The information is about enemy tactics, as the governor of Kohgiluye province and Boyer Ahmad explained.
It is also unclear what happens next if the missing person is found by Iran. If the capture remains secret, Iran could negotiate with the USA behind closed doors and demand concessions, says Hamidreza Azizi, an expert on Iranian security issues at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, to the New York Times.
Or the prisoner could be presented publicly in front of cameras – the expert believes that is more likely: “They definitely want to convey this image of victory and at the same time humiliate Trump.”
(With material from SDA and DPA)