The downing of two US warplanes in a single day has jolted the nearly five-week-long conflict with Iran, exposing fresh vulnerabilities and triggering a high-risk hunt for a missing American pilot believed to be on the run inside hostile territory.
The incidents, confirmed by both US and Iranian officials, mark the first time American aircraft have been brought down in the war, sharply contradicting claims of air superiority and pushing tensions into a more dangerous phase.
What unfolded over the past day marks one of the most punishing stretches for US air operations since the war began, with multiple aircraft hit, downed, or forced into emergency situations in rapid succession.
An F-15E Strike Eagle was shot out of the sky over Iran, with one crew member rescued while another remains missing inside hostile territory. Rescue efforts themselves came under fire, with two HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters hit mid-mission, their crews managing to escape despite reports of injuries. The pressure extended across the fleet, as two A-10 Warthogs were struck - one crashing into the Gulf after the pilot ejected, while another limped back to base on a single engine.
Elsewhere, an F-16 was forced into an emergency landing, and one to two KC-135 refuelling tankers also declared emergencies, pointing to a wider strain on US aerial operations.
In the span of just hours, the skies over Iran and the Gulf turned into a high-risk combat zone, raising serious doubts about US control of the airspace and signalling a far more dangerous phase of the conflict ahead.
At the centre of the escalation is a US F-15E fighter jet that was shot down by Iranian fire over Iranian territory.
The aircraft, which carries two crew members, went down during combat operations. One crew member has been rescued, while the other remains missing, with search efforts ongoing.
The incident marks the first confirmed loss of a US-piloted aircraft inside Iran since the war began on February 28.
In a separate incident the same day, a US A-10 Warthog attack aircraft was hit and crashed over Kuwait.
The pilot managed to eject safely and was later recovered, according to US officials.
The back-to-back incidents represent one of the most significant setbacks for US air operations since the conflict began.
Efforts to locate the missing F-15E crew member have proven perilous.
Two US Blackhawk helicopters deployed for the search-and-rescue mission were themselves hit by Iranian fire but managed to exit Iranian airspace.
The operation highlights the dangers of conducting recovery missions deep inside hostile territory, where even rescue teams are exposed to attack.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps has launched a search operation in the country’s southwest for the missing crew member.
Authorities have gone further, urging civilians to report or capture the pilot, with a regional official promising rewards for anyone who captures or kills “forces of the hostile enemy”.
Iranian political leaders have framed the moment as a turning point, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf saying the war had shifted “from regime change” to a hunt for US pilots.
President Donald Trump has been receiving real-time updates on the search operation at the White House.
Despite the incidents, Trump sought to downplay their impact, saying, “No, not at all. No, it’s war,” when asked if they would affect negotiations.
The Pentagon and US Central Command have not issued detailed public statements on the downed aircraft.
However, the developments complicate earlier claims by Trump that US forces had overwhelming control of Iranian airspace.
Just days before the incidents, Trump had said, “We literally have planes flying over Tehran They can’t do a thing about it.”
The loss of two aircraft in quick succession has raised questions about that assessment.
Military experts point out that even degraded air defence systems can pose risks, especially through mobile missile systems and ground fire.
The broader conflict continues to intensify, with no clear path to de-escalation.
Iran has rejected efforts to restart talks with US officials in Islamabad, stalling ceasefire attempts led by Pakistan.
The war, which began with US and Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader on February 28, has already killed thousands and wounded hundreds of US personnel.
The conflict has spilt across the Middle East, with Iran targeting Israel and US-aligned Gulf states using drones and missiles.
Strikes on critical infrastructure, including energy facilities in Kuwait, have heightened concerns about regional stability.
Oil prices have surged sharply amid fears of prolonged disruption, adding pressure on the global economy.
The downing of US aircraft and the hunt for a missing pilot mark a critical moment in the war.
Beyond the immediate military stakes, the incidents expose the risks of deeper involvement, the limits of air power, and the possibility of further escalation in a conflict already stretching across the region.
With a US pilot potentially evading capture inside Iran, the situation remains volatile, and far from over.
Source: ANI