On April 3, 2026, the United States suffered multiple aircraft losses over and near Iran in a single day of intensified operations, marking what officials described as a serious setback for American air power.
According to US officials who spoke to CBS News and The New York Times on condition of anonymity, an F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down by Iranian forces over western Iran. One of the two crew members was successfully rescued by American forces during a high-risk combat search-and-rescue mission; efforts to locate the second aviator are continuing. Iranian state media released images of the wreckage and claimed responsibility for the shoot-down.
In a separate but nearly simultaneous incident, an A-10 Warthog close-air-support jet went down near the Strait of Hormuz, the officials told The New York Times. The pilot was reported safe.
During the rescue operation for the F-15E crew, at least one US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter involved in the mission was hit, according to reports citing sources close to the operation (Newsmax and The War Zone). US forces deployed additional Black Hawks and a C-130 Hercules aircraft deep into Iranian airspace to support the search.
The losses come amid ongoing US strikes on Iranian targets and represent the first confirmed manned combat aircraft shoot-downs over Iran in the current conflict. Pentagon spokespeople have not yet issued a full official statement, but multiple major outlets including NBC News, The Guardian and Reuters have corroborated key details from American and regional sources.
The incidents highlight the increasing risks facing US aircrews operating in contested airspace as the conflict with Iran enters a more dangerous phase.