Declassified Videos Show U.S. Rescue of Downed F-15E Crew in Iran

September 14, 2026 at 12:26 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

The U.S. military recovered two Air Force officers shot down over Iran in separate rescue operations involving 21 aircraft and more than 90 ground personnel. Newly declassified footage released by CBS News and 60 Minutes on September 13, 2026, details the recovery of the F-15E Strike Eagle crew south of Isfahan. The pilot was extracted within hours, while the weapons systems officer was rescued nearly two days later after sustaining fractures.

Key Facts

The F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down by a surface-to-air missile south of Isfahan, Iran.
The pilot, Alpha, was recovered in a daylight mission involving 21 aircraft.
The weapons systems officer, Bravo, sustained fractures to his back, arm, and shoulder during ejection.
More than 90 American personnel were deployed on the ground during the second phase of the rescue.
CBS News and 60 Minutes released the declassified footage on September 13, 2026.

The Shootdown

A surface-to-air missile brought down the F-15E Strike Eagle south of Isfahan, Iran. The pilot and weapons systems officer ejected and were separated by several miles as Iranian forces searched for them. The pilot, Alpha, was recovered several hours later during a daylight mission involving 21 aircraft. Bravo's parachute was damaged during ejection, and he struck the ground at high speed, sustaining fractures to his back, arm, and shoulder.

Rescue Operations

Alpha's recovery used an HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter under an extensive air package. The HH-60W has a stated range of 690 miles, can be refueled in flight, and incorporates Link 16 and a Situational Awareness Data Link. Bravo's extraction combined MC-130 aircraft, MH-6M Little Birds, deception measures, and strikes on nearby Iranian forces. More than 90 American personnel were deployed on the ground during the second phase, while several hundred operated in the air and several thousand more supported the mission. Two Air Force Pararescue personnel reached Bravo after almost two days on the ground before moving him toward a U.S. helicopter.

Declassified Footage

CBS News and 60 Minutes released newly declassified footage on September 13, 2026, showing both recoveries. The footage provides the most detailed public account to date of the force structure used during the operation. When the rescuers reached Bravo, his first words were simply, "Let's go."