A U.S. fighter jet was shot down by Iran over Iranian territory on Friday and other American aircraft were also struck during a search and rescue mission, U.S officials confirmed to ABC News, marking a new and potentially dangerous point in the conflict.
One crew member aboard the downed two-seater F-15E has been rescued, according to a U.S. official. The status of the other crew member is unknown, according to the official, and the search and rescue effort continues.
Two Black Hawk helicopters also involved in the search and rescue mission for the crew of the F-15E fighter jet were struck by incoming fire, a U.S. official said. There were injuries to some of the crew aboard the helicopters, both of which were able to make it back to their base, the official said.
A U.S. Air Force one-seater A-10 “Warthog” attack aircraft that was providing close air support for the search and rescue mission was hit over Iran and crashed in Kuwait, according to a U.S. official. The pilot was rescued, according to the official. Their condition was unclear.
Experts warn the conflict may be intensifying rather than nearing an end.
“They’re not by any means done, and we have to prepare ourselves; they will find ways to fight back,” said Jack Tomarchio, former Principal Deputy of Homeland Security.
Combat search and rescue missions have become relatively rare for U.S. forces after more than a generation of near-total air dominance, with American aircraft typically operating with limited threats to aircraft in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The early indications that the F-15E was brought down by enemy fire would mark the first time Iran has successfully downed a manned American aircraft in the war, which started in February.
“Iran is going to use this as a propaganda coup. It will show they still have plenty of life to take down one of the most important pieces of military equipment,” said Alan McPhearson, a history professor at Temple University.
The development comes just days after President Donald Trump said Iran no longer had anti-aircraft capabilities and suggested the war was nearing completion.
“Not all of those have been disabled, obviously, so you can have air superiority and pretty much control the area, but that doesn’t mean the energy still can’t shoot you down,” Tomarchio said.
For some, the incident draws comparisons to Operation Desert Storm in 1991, when a naval aircraft was shot down. One of those on board was Cherry Hill native Jeffrey Zaun, who was captured by Iraqi forces and held as a prisoner of war in Baghdad before being released after 46 days.
ABC News contributed to this report.
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