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Watch: New video released of operation in rescue of downed Air Force airman in Iran

By
FOX Local
Iran War
Published September 16, 2026 5:19 AM MST
Published September 16, 2026 5:19 AM MST
Downed airman rescue
Downed airman rescue

Downed airman rescue

Video of the operation to rescue the airman that was shot down over Iran in April. 

The Brief

    • The Pentagon has released a new dramatic video of the operation to rescue the American airman that was shot down in Iran in April.
    • The frantic search-and-rescue operation came after the F-15E Strike Eagle jet was shot down.
    • You can see the moments when a U.S. military helicopter arrives at a ridge line in the desert valley, where two service members run out and grab the airman to bring him back to safety.

The Pentagon has released dramatic new video showing the operation to rescue an American aircrew after their aircraft was shot down over Iran in April.

The frantic search-and-rescue operation came after the F-15E Strike Eagle jet was shot down. The fighter was one of two jets that were downed during military operations. 

RELATED: Trump details daring rescue of downed US airman in Iran

The backstory:

The video shows several portions of the operation of the "Dude 44" rescue. The pilot and backseat weapons system officer ejected from the aircraft and landed several miles apart from one another, both stranded in Iran. 

U.S. Air Force

While the pilot was rescued just after six hours, the other airman suffered injuries coming down in the parachute, and remained stranded in Iran for nearly two days before U.S. forces were able to launch the rescue operation. 

RELATED: Missing F-15 airman rescued after jet downed in Iran, Trump says

Dig deeper:

Nearly three minutes into the video, you can see the moments when a U.S. military helicopter arrives at a ridge line in the desert valley, where two service members run out and grab the airman to bring him back to safety. 

Other additional portions of the video show American forces bombing Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces as they attempted to close in on the downed airman. 

What they're saying:

President Trump later described the rescue that involved "dozens of aircraft adding the U.S. had been monitoring the airman’s location "24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue."

By the numbers:

According to Trump, the mission ultimately included 155 aircraft, among them four bombers, 64 fighter jets, 48 refueling tankers, and 13 rescue aircraft. He said much of the effort was designed to mislead Iranian forces, who were also searching for the missing crew member.

The Source: This story was written with information provided by the United States Air Force, Fox News Digital and previous reporting by LiveNOW from FOX. This story was reported from Orlando. 

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