Wreckage of US aircraft in Iran pictured for first time following dramatic rescue mission

Marcus Donaldson
Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:26:32 +0000

Iran has released new images purporting to show the wreckage of multiple American aircraft following the stunning rescue operation of a US airman from deep within the territory of the Islamic Republic.

Regime state media shared footage and images of the blackened husks, appearing to be the remains of at least one large propeller plane and a helicopter.

The site of the wrecks appears to be around 28 miles south of the Iranian city of Isfahan, a key strategic hub for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard.

US sources have said that special forces were forced to destroy aircraft used during the successful rescue of an F-15 weapons officer after they encountered technical difficulties during the operation.

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Officials told Reuters and the Associated Press that at least one transport plane was intentionally blown up by ground troops before all were successfully evacuated.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic has claimed it shot down two American C-130 transport aircraft and two Blackhawk helicopters during the mission.

The cause of the wrecks has not yet been independently verified.

This morning, President Donald Trump announced the rescue mission had been accomplished on his Truth Social platform, declaring: "WE GOT HIM!"

"My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US history, for one of our incredible crew member officers," he wrote.

"This brave warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, but was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow warfighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue."

The President confirmed the airman had sustained injuries from the crash, but "will be just fine".

He continued: "This is the first time in military memory that two US pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in enemy territory.

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The US leader declared: "WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND!"

President Trump confirmed that no US military personnel were injured or killed in the daring rescue operation.

He added: "This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republican, Democrat, and everyone else, should be proud of and united around.

"We truly have the best, most professional, and lethal military in the history of the world."

Earlier in the week, elite Air Force pararescue units scrambled for a rescue mission after a F-15E fighter jet was shot down by forces of the Islamic Republic.

The warplane’s pilot was successfully extracted by US personnel on Friday, but the aircraft's weapons officer was not recovered until the incredible mission on Saturday morning.

Pararescue jumpers, among the most highly trained special operations forces in the American military, led the recovery effort in Iran's Khuzestan province.

The former officer described the mission in grave terms, explaining that: "Harrowing and massively dangerous is an understatement."