Wonderful news – the missing airman has been rescued by US forces
What a tremendous relief. For hours today I had heard rumors that the rescue had happened, but they were unconfirmed until just a short while ago:
US forces have successfully rescued and extracted the missing crew member of an American fighter jet that was shot down over Iran following “one of the most daring search-and-rescue operations” in the country’s history, President Trump announced early Sunday.
“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 U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!” Trump posted on Truth Social just after midnight.
The Air Force officer — a weapons specialist who has not yet been publicly identified — was one of two aboard an F-15E Strike Eagle shot down on Friday. Both had ejected over southwestern Iran, triggering a massive high-risk rescue mission.
The weapons officer was injured during the ejection, but was still able to walk, a US official told Axios.
“He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine,” Trump said.
The crew member was recovered in a dangerous Saturday night operation following intense fighting near the crash site, as US forces carried out a complex operation deep inside Iranian territory.
We will probably never know every detail. But it sounds as though he was able to get to high ground and set off a signal to US forces that told them where he was, and that they knew that information for nearly 24 hours. You can bet the Iranian forces were pursuing him with extreme zeal, because capturing and parading him would have been the fulfillment of a dream for them. Don’t forget that the mullahtocracy began with a bunch of US hostages; anyone of “a certain age” (as I am and so many readers here are) probably recalls it vividly.
I was tremendously worried that the Iranians would find him before we did, but that didn’t happen although there were apparently heated firefights involved, including the following:
A senior military official told the outlet that the mission was one of the most challenging and complex in the history of US special operations.
The airman evaded capture for up to a day in mountainous terrain, using survival training to move away from the wreckage and hide on elevated ground while signaling for rescue. He had little more than a pistol as Iranian forces scoured the area and mobilized civilians to hunt him down, the Times reported.
“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,” Trump added.
The airman and the rescue team safely evacuated Iran and flew to Kuwait, where the injured airman could be treated, according to the Times.
The operation unfolded amid reported airstrikes and clashes in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, where local officials said multiple people were killed or wounded, as US special operations forces and Air Force pararescue teams engaged in a fierce firefight with Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Basij fighters searching for the downed crew member.
Searching frantically but unsuccessfully, something which probably disappoints our own MSM and Democrats.
Sometimes life imitates movies, and this one has a happy ending. Would that the whole war will have a happy ending
@ Neo > “Sometimes life imitates movies, and this one has a happy ending.”
Tonight (this morning?), just before I started catching up with Neo’s posts, I saw the news which broke around midnight EDT judging from the datelines of posts at Red State, Hot Air, and Townhall.
A couple of them included comments that the operation would make a great movie, but no one would believe a pilot downed on Good Friday being rescued on Easter morning.
Well, some of us might, but it is an unusual coincidence.
A couple of posts also included this clip from the NY Times (the first blockquote), and I like Hot Air’s observation (the second blockquote).
https://hotair.com/david-strom/2026/04/04/multiple-reports-that-f-15-weapons-systems-officer-rescued-after-massive-firefight-still-unconfirmed-n3813575
NYT:
David Strom at Hot Air:
Even more interesting, especially if you are the hypothetical script writer, was another update at the Hot Air link, a post on X by this unidentified source — Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) April 5, 2026 – although I don’t necessarily doubt what the anonymous official supposedly disclosed. Trump’s war department is exceedingly chary with its “leaks” to reporters or anyone else, but it could have been revealed for some tactical or strategic purpose, or perhaps the CIA is preening itself:
One would hope the “deception” gave his alleged route as something other than the actual location for his pick-up, but the Iranian forces seem to have gotten some information in order to engage the American forces doing the exfiltration.
There is certainly more to the story of the two transport planes getting stuck at a remote base in Iran.
PS: The Democrats, looking for anything to throw at Trump, complained that he called an “early lid” on the press Saturday morning, and rumors flew that he was sick and “had been seen” at Walter Reed hospital, all of which were debunked pretty quickly.
https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2026/04/04/rumor-about-trumps-health-n2200963
Which was probably this:
https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2026/04/04/breaking-trump-posts-video-claims-irans-military-leadership-just-went-up-in-smoke-n3813573
Kind of a wild Saturday in the Middle East.
Is this the Gog and Magog thing yet?
Regardless, may you all have a blessed Easter.
Ed Morrissey posted these insightful observations based on his faith as a Catholic.
https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2026/04/05/a-happy-and-blessed-easter-to-all-our-hot-air-readers-n3813550
Wonderful news!!
Wasn’t sure if I should believe it, hours ago.
Thank you, Neo, for your post, and Aesopfan for your informative comment!!
God bless America!
…
Happy Easter to all!!
Wonderful news! God bless all our service members. Keep praying as long as this Iran operation lasts.
@Aesop Fan:Is this the Gog and Magog thing yet?
Nowhere near Megiddo yet, fortunately.
Just amazing work by all involved.
Shot down on Good Friday, rescued on Easter Sunday? Answered prayers?
Good advice Kate – keep praying.
‘WE GOT HIM!’: President Trump announces epic rescue of airman downed behind lines – VIDEO
https://commoncts.blogspot.com/2026/04/we-got-him-president-trump-announces.html
Easter Wishes from the Greatest President Ever.
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116351998782539414
Adm. James Forrestal failed his last check flight for less.
YMMV.
I think there’s probably more to this whole event than we know.
That said, there is no doubt in my mind that the global Left (which includes our MsM and Dem leadership) were hoping for disaster. We went through this with them in Afghanistan, in Iraq (both rounds), in Vietnam, in the Cold War, it goes back 60 years now.
Yeah, the left was definitely hoping for a non-rescue. Now, this morning with Trump’s profanity message to Iran, the Ds/leftists I follow are freaking out claiming he is deranged and “millions of people” will die. And they are now questioning why anyone would support this lunatic. Here’s the answer according to one of our fellow Americans; I guess I fall into the “intelligent, but lacking all morals for my own benefit” category.
“Trump is and always has been a con man. He’s a chameleon in the sense that he tells people what they want to hear and reflect an image of what they want to be.
But racists, misogynists, narcissists, people who value money power and success above all else, see their otherwise non socially acceptable values validated by Trump and vote for him because of it.
Trump is also a stupid person’s vision of a smart person, a poor person’s vision of a rich person, and a weak person’s vision of a strong person.
People with intelligence do not buy it, and see Trump for what he is, but are willing to ride that train for their own personal benefit or prejudices. Those people are the real threat.
But intelligent people who also have morals, ethics and empathy don’t fall for it. They see Trump for exactly what he is and understand exactly where it’s going to lead.”
physicsguy, it’s the self-righteous arrogance of these people that really gets to me.
Trump, at least as I read current events, has been enjoying a great winning streak.
I feared the capture of this airman would be just the sort of thing to break that streak and fuel negative news cycles for weeks, maybe months.
Not to mention what would happen to that brave man.
Happy Easter!
in the treacherous mountains of Iran
Oh, spare us. Find a better adjective. Mountains do their thing by standing up, and any treachery must come from outside them.
@neo: … anyone of “a certain age” (as I am and so many readers here are)…
The French say “un certain âge” without quotes — it’s a very natural expression. The origin is not definite either way, but IMO the combination of indirection and tact puts it solidly in the French column.
French was the language of diplomacy for centuries.
Iranian people and their vehicles blocked roads so the IRGC and Basij couldn’t get to the downed airmen easily.
Lot’s of videos on “X”
“Oh, spare us. Find a better adjective. Mountains do their thing by standing up, and any treachery must come from outside them.”
As someone who grew up by spending huge amount of time in the Colorado Rockies, your statement is laughable. American Heritage dictionary number 2 definition of “treacherous” is “Characterized by unforeseen or hidden hazards; dangerous or deceptive.” That’s mountains to a tee. And if someone doesn’t believe that, they have no business being in mountains, especially when injured.
Kate,
Yes. Their very high opinion of themselves is very galling, and I’ve found it’s also the foundation of their inability to have a rational discussion with anyone who is a conservative. Again, no mental health person am I, but I swear TDS is a true mental disorder and affecting a large portion of the population. Of course, they say we are the ones that are truly disturbed. A huge gap that cannot be bridged.
How long before “No Malarkey” Joe takes full credit…?
+ Related:
https://twitter.com/FreightAlley/status/2040787495365820778
H/T Instapundit.
Physics guy, those on the left are convinced that they are virtuous and that we are at best stupid and more likely immoral.
A former liberal friend of mine once asked me, out of the blue, why people from red states are so stupid. I reminded him that I’m from Texas, which didn’t deter him. He just said “well, you’re different”.
He’s a former friend because, while he’s not a bad human being, he’s a walking, talking cliche of every bad trait liberals have, so I stopped interacting with him, quietly.
He’s an agnostic Jew who hates Bibby and will only support a “two state solution” to the Palestinian issue. I told him, “they don’t want a two state, they want YOUR state.”
I just don’t understand these seeming ly intelligent people who act like morons.
They’re wonderful people—really!—but their brains have been hijacked by aliens…
(Sorry, it’s the best I can come up with…. Maybe SoP can elaborate….)
I was worried about what would be done to this American, if captured. It would have been bad, and perhaps slightly worse if the officer had been female. There was a female pilot on one of the planes mistakenly shot down in Kuwait.
An amazing operation altogether.
The irony of Democrats’ hysterical anti-Trump rants is that their party has no politicians at the national level with any integrity or statesmanship, except Fetterman!
@Selfy:except Fetterman
Unfortunately he is no exception. He just sometimes says things that we want to hear. He’s 100% for abortion, for LGBT issues, for universal health care, for legalizing illegals.
yes he’s still a Democrat, but willing to extend some courtesy,
its striking that the location where the pilot went down, khuzistan, was not remarked upon much, it is apart from the larger iran, in various ways, the people consider themselves exploited by the Central Government, it was a seat of not a few protests, in the last few months,
I thought based on this, there would be a basis for some resistance, but that has not been clearly born out, by recent events, maybe it will in the future,
the Zagros mountains have often been speculated to where the Iranians would likely test their nukes, they were depicted in that curious Amazon spy drama Citadel*, as part of a mission, they probably filmed it in Turkey,
*curious because how the adversaries motivations are depicted,
Wasn’t Bibby a guard for the Knicks, or am I misremembering him. Henry, wasn’t it. Yeah, Henry Bibby.
The Free Press has an extraordinary article on the heartbreaking courage of the young airmen — and airwomen, as the piece explicitly acknowledges — who carry out such rescues. It appeared before the rescue was announced but has been updated to acknowledge it. I’ve been walking around with a lump in my throat all day from its emotional power, and especially a Yeats quotation toward the end. I’m not sure if it’s behind a paywall, but read it if you can:
https://www.thefp.com/p/an-american-airman-confronts-fate
Best news I have heard in a long time! A great way to start the day!
The arguments for/against attacking Iran remind me of the German militarization of the Rhineland in 1936, violating the Versailles Treaty. Churchill urged a strong response, the French considered military action, but in the end nothing happened, the diplomats won out. I think we can all agree in retrospect that strong action would have been the best move. Europe paid a steep price for their inaction.
@Chuck:I think we can all agree in retrospect that strong action would have been the best move. Europe paid a steep price for their inaction.
Hindsight’s 20/20, and they’re not all Hitler. Plenty of other armed interventions that killed people and broke things but there was no potential Hitler to justify them. Calling back to Hitler every time is just crying wolf, eventually everyone tunes it out, raising the odds that we’ll get another one. The “next Hitler” card was unfortunately maxed out in 2003 and it will be a while before it’s useful again.
I don’t think Iran has much at all in common with 1930s Germany. The reasons for going to war with them now are in my opinion valid, but also in my opinion very different, something overdue that should have been done long ago but never was.
I like Chuck’s thoughts. History is a funny thing though. Imagine if a successful war had been waged against Hitler when he began to re-arm. Then, in the ensuing decades millions of people alive, who otherwise wouldn’t have been, would be debating whether that preemptive war was really necessary, moral, and just. It boggles the mind.
@Mike Plaiss:Then, in the ensuing decades millions of people alive, who otherwise wouldn’t have been, would be debating whether that preemptive war was really necessary, moral, and just.
No way to know that. Stalin still was killing his millions and likely might have started his own war after 1941. No way to know now how that might have turned out.
No way to know now how that might have turned out.
Exactly.
“Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, very simple” — Trump
That doesn’t seem all that different from:
“What is the real peril? It is not the reoccupation of the Rhineland, but this enormous process of the rearmament of Germany.” — Churchill
Shorter Churchill: Germany cannot have an army, very simple 🙂
The commonality is that some states are too aggressive and bent on expansion to allow them great military power. The treatment of their own citizens is/was regarded as an internal matter, few would go to war over that. It is when they pose a danger to other powers that things get interesting.
@Niketas Choniates: No way to know that.
Chuck and Mike made a perfectly understandable and reasonable arguments. Niketas rejects them because they are not absolutely certain nor absolutely parallel to Iran.
Well, in the cloudy, moonlit world of politics and warfare there is no certainty nor exact parallels. By Niketas’s reasoning, at least when he wishes to disagree which seem to be most of the time, there are no legitimate arguments to be made.
However, in the case of the Rhineland 1936, the historical consensus is high likelihood that Britain and France could have dealt Hitler a serious setback.
Whether that would have prevented WW II and its horrors is not so certain, but I would argue it was a better shot than waiting until after Poland was invaded.
_____________________________________
When German troops occupied the Rhineland on March 7, 1936, the Nazi Third Reich succeeded in freeing Germany from the last fetter by which she had been bound after her defeat in 1918. More importantly, the Rhineland incident marks perhaps the last crucial occasion upon which the aggressive Nazi drive might have been checked with relatively little effort. Seldom has the course of history been so definitely fixed by a single act. The events surrounding the Rhineland episode comprise one of the clearest lessons on record for both the student and the practitioner of international and military affairs.
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1955/november/german-occupation-rhineland
My two cents.
I don’t think Iran has much at all in common with 1930s Germany.
i agree with qualifications. Iran is not the threat to the world and the U.S. that Germany was. But they are just as much of a threat to Israel – they have openly discussed their nuclear annihilation.
At some level that is what you have to decide. I’ve had one argument about the war that got heated. The Canadian I was arguing with said he didn’t really care if Israel was obliterated. There you go, Do you? And are Trump’s actions making it less likely or more. I’m on my side because I do care, and I think Trump’s actions have a real shot of making things much better, or not a hell of a lot worse.
But we’ll never know for sure because we’ll never see the results of the road not taken.
Going to bed now, up at six, but up for more arguing in the morning. I’m at my best
On the train – you stand warned!
I just don’t understand these seeming ly intelligent people who act like morons.
==
Your quondam friend is the sum of his conceits. Most people are not.
@huxley:By Niketas’s reasoning, at least when he wishes to disagree which seem to be most of the time, there are no legitimate arguments to be made.
Completely false, I’m afraid. There are legitimate arguments to be made for our war with Iran, and I said as much. There were legitimate arguments for a war in Germany in 1936. But they are not the same arguments. I disagreed with people who explicitly said it was the same argument.
@Niketas Choniates: Completely false, I’m afraid.
I doubt you are afraid at all. Mostly what you do here is disagree. And condescend.
In any event your response is so vague, that you will have to be to be more specific, before I’ll bother.
There are at least 10-15 other pilots who have been shot down by the completely underestimated Iranian defenses, but no one has fixated on them yet, even the democrats (who don’t know how to best deal with such a huge gift of failure)
Yanmark claims that the Iranians are at least 4 or 5 times better at shooting down more pilots (?, not airplanes or helicopters or recon drones) than the world wide press has acknowledged.
Yanmark is a “mark” all right. An Iranian/Russian/Chinese “mark.”
— Yanmark
OK, I should know better, but I’ll play. Sources and specifics and these other planes and pilots?
They are so completely underestimated that we should expect Tucker to have an interview soon with the IRGC general (a former corporal recently promoted) who shot down all the US/Israeli war criminals that tried to violate Iranian airspace.
As liberal smiles turn to frowns.