Iran Shoots Down U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle

On Friday, April 3, 2026, Iranian media published photographs of the wreckage of an alleged U.S. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II multirole aircraft reportedly shot down earlier that day by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over the country. However, according to available materials, it was in fact a Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle multirole aircraft. The United States denies the claims.

Part of the vertical tail fin / Photos: X

According to the markings, the aircraft belonged to the 48th Fighter Wing (Liberty Wing) from RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, England. The distinctive red stripe within a white border indicates assignment to the 494th Fighter Squadron “Panthers.” The unit is currently deployed to Jordan as part of Operation Epic Fury as the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.

Twelve aircraft were deployed to the area of responsibility of United States Central Command (CENTCOM) on January 17 of this year, most likely to Muwaffak Salti Air Base in Jordan.

Other wreckage

Interestingly, according to the leadership of Khatam al-Anbiya, responsible within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for engineering and construction support, a second F-35 was also reportedly hit over central Iran – but the evidence presented was the same F-15E wreckage.

Earlier, the Tasnim News Agency published video footage of what it claimed was the interception of the first F-35 near Qeshm Island, located in the Strait of Hormuz.

A sophisticated US-Israeli enemy fighter jet was struck and downed moments ago over southern Qeshm Island by Iran’s advanced naval air defense system, in a direct rebuttal to the US president’s false claim of having completely destroyed the Iran’ air defenses. pic.twitter.com/sLHV9ASKoi

— Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) April 2, 2026

Meanwhile, CENTCOM denied the incident and the loss of any combat aircraft in the region.

🚫 CLAIM: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it downed an „enemy” fighter jet over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

✅ FACT: All U.S. fighter aircraft are accounted for. Iran’s IRGC has made the same false claim at least half a dozen times. pic.twitter.com/bN7HJdLxEr

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 2, 2026

UPDATE

A HC-130J Combat King II search-and-rescue aircraft and MH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters were observed over southern Iran:

Video footage filmed by residents in Southern Iran appears to show a U.S. Air Force HC-130J “Combat King II” Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) Aircraft flying low this morning over Southern Iran, with operations likely underway to find and extract the crew of an American F-15E that… pic.twitter.com/MgJxtvkFtB

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 3, 2026

More footage of U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules and UH-60 Black Hawks conducting Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) Operations this morning over Southern Iran, following reports of a downed F-15E Strike Eagle. https://t.co/dJ8YhlbfMu

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 3, 2026

A U.S. Air Force MH-60G “Pave Hawk” Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) Helicopter spotted this morning over the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province of Southern Iran, after reports began to circulate of a downed F-15E Strike Eagle. pic.twitter.com/swZ8bU6fH0

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 3, 2026

A U.S. Air Force HC-130J “Combat King II” Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) Aircraft seen flying extremely low over the countryside of Southern Iran, as the search continues for the crew of a downed American F-15E Strike Eagle. pic.twitter.com/vQL7umqmYy

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 3, 2026

A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules, possibly a HC-130J “Combat King II” Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) Aircraft, and a pair of MH-60G “Pave Hawk” Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) Helicopters seen earlier over the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province of Southern Iran. pic.twitter.com/BMydrSJXZe

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 3, 2026

An ACES II ejection seat from an F-15E has been recovered:

A McDonnell-Douglas ACES II (Advanced Concept Ejection Seat) from a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle has been found by residents in Southern Iran, the whereabouts or status of the pilot and weapons officer is currently unknown, with unconfirmed reports that one or both of the… pic.twitter.com/V0KMonfQiv

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 3, 2026

Iranian state media have called on civilians to help capture the pilot and weapon systems officer of the F-15E:

Iran’s state-run Mehr News Agency calls on Iranian civilians to help capture the pilot and weapons officer of an American F-15E Strike Eagle that was allegedly shot down this morning over Southern Iran. pic.twitter.com/e2OsvaDB5t

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 3, 2026

Sources confirmed to Axios that a search-and-rescue operation is underway:

For the first time since the start of Operation Epic Fury, Iran has successfully shot down a U.S. fighter jet, with a search and rescue effort underway to locate two crew in Southern Iran, a source familiar with the incident tells Axios.

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 3, 2026

UPDATE 2

The Iranian Mehr News Agency claims that a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter has been shot down.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️– Unconfirmed Images published by local Iranian media from Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province. https://t.co/yLL88PTGH8 pic.twitter.com/igocJBSMGC

— MonitorX (@MonitorX99800) April 3, 2026

Newsmax’s Carla Babb states that she can now confirm a U.S. Air Force UH-60 Black Hawk was struck by Iran during ongoing search-and-rescue operation for the downed crew of an F-15E Strike Eagle. The helicopter’s crew is accounted for and is safe, having since exited Iran via… pic.twitter.com/9oT1Q0wJmd

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 3, 2026

UPDATE 3

According to Israel’s Channel 12, citing a Western source, one of the two crew members of the downed F-15E has been rescued and evacuated from southern Iran.

According Israel’s Channel 12, citing a Western source, one of the two American crewmembers onboard the downed F-15E Strike Eagle has been rescued and evacuated from Southern Iran.

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 3, 2026

UPDATE 4

Iran reportedly shot down an A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft.

According to The New York Times, citing two U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters, in addition to the F-15E Strike Eagle shot down earlier today over Southern Iran, a U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II went down near the Strait of… pic.twitter.com/OggsyfuNZv

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 3, 2026

Another combat aircraft with the U.S. Air Force, reported to be an A-10C Thunderbolt II, has crashed on the territory of a friendly country in the Middle East, after sustaining heavy fire over Iran.

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 3, 2026

Iran claims it shot down two helicopters:

Second US Black Hawk Helicopter Struck by Iranian Forces https://t.co/9i4062MfAM pic.twitter.com/nRig4UVToD

— Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) April 3, 2026

See also:

• Iranian attack: AWACS destroyed and Stratotankers damaged; soldiers injured
• F-35A Damaged in Combat for the First Time?
• Collision of two U.S. KC-135s over Iraq – one crashed