US special forces rescue team faces 'harrowing and dangerous' search for crew member downed over Iran

The warplane’s pilot was successfully extracted by US personnel on Friday, but the search for the weapon systems officer continues deep within hostile airspace.

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

Operations of this nature rank among the most intricate and time-pressured undertakings that US and allied forces prepare for.

At least 24 elite operators flying Black Hawk helicopters will likely be deployed to the region, according to a former commander of a pararescue jumpers squadron.

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

"This is what they train to do, all over the world. They are known as the Swiss Army knives of the Air Force."

Unlike conventional rescue efforts during humanitarian crises or natural disasters, combat search-and-rescue missions unfold in contested or actively hostile environments where enemy combatants are simultaneously hunting for the same personnel.

Iranian officials called on civilians to be on the lookout for survivors and have flooded social media with images that purport to show wreckage from the aircraft.

Footage shared across social media showed Black Hawk helicopters flying low around the Iranian countryside.

US military sources confirmed that the pilot was rescued by two aircraft, which came under small arms fire during the daring operation, per CBS.

Some of the helicopter crew were wounded in the rescue, but all returned safely to base and were transported elsewhere for further medical care.

The current operation involves multiple aircraft working in coordination, with helicopters conducting the primary search whilst refuelling planes ensure they can remain airborne for extended periods.

Major General Thomas Kunkel, a former rescue helicopter pilot, told Time magazine that crews typically number between 10 and 20 personnel for such missions.

The HH-60W helicopter, purpose-built for these operations, is supported by HC-130J tanker aircraft, whilst electronic-jamming aircraft and heavily armoured A-10 ground-attack aircraft provide protective cover against Iranian forces.

The personnel tasked with these perilous recoveries undergo what is widely regarded as one of the most demanding selection processes in the US armed forces.

Pararescuemen complete approximately two years of intensive preparation encompassing parachute and diving qualifications, underwater demolition techniques, and comprehensive survival training alongside a full civilian paramedic certification.

Additional specialist instruction covers battlefield medical care, weapons proficiency and complex extraction procedures.

These operators serve under the motto: "These Things We Do, That Others May Live.

Amid the recovery mission, a second US Air Force combat plane was shot down over the Persian Gulf region.

Iran's air defence system targeted an "enemy" A-10 aircraft in southern waters near the Hormuz Strait, the nation's state media said on Friday.

The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, more commonly known as a "Warthog", attack plane went down near the Strait of Hormuz, with officials confirming its sole pilot was quickly rescued.

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