U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that his administration successfully evacuated a fighter jet pilot who had gone missing after being shot down by Iran. However, Iran rejected this claim and instead stated that it had shot down two additional U.S. aircraft and a helicopter during the rescue operation.

Previously, Iran’s armed forces reported that they had shot down at least two fighter jets, three drones, and two cruise missiles on Friday (April 3). Iran described the incident as a “dark day” for the air forces of the United States and Israel.

As compiled by detikcom on Sunday (April 5, 2026), Trump asserted that the United States had successfully rescued a military personnel who had gone missing after the fighter jet was downed by Iran. The U.S. deployed dozens of aircraft as part of the search and rescue (SAR) mission.

The statement was delivered through Trump’s social media post, as reported by AP on Sunday (April 5, 2026). The United States has been intensively conducting search and rescue operations since the F-15E Strike Eagle crashed on Friday. Meanwhile, Iran even offered a reward to anyone who could hand over the “enemy pilot.”

The second crew member had already been rescued earlier. In his post, Trump stated that the injured pilot “will be fine,” and added that the pilot had taken shelter in the dangerous mountainous regions of Iran.

Trump further noted that the rescue operation involved dozens of aircraft and that the U.S. had been monitoring the pilot’s location around the clock while carefully planning the rescue mission.

Iran Shoots Down More U.S. Aircraft
Iran’s joint military command announced that two Black Hawk helicopters and one C-130 military transport aircraft were shot down in the Isfahan region. These aircraft were involved in the rescue mission for the U.S. pilot whose jet had previously been downed by Iran.

Iran’s central military command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, stated that enemy aircraft entering southern Isfahan—including two Black Hawk helicopters and one C-130 aircraft—were struck and are now burning, as reported by AFP on Sunday (April 5, 2026).

Iran Claims Rescue Operation Failed
The Iranian military declared that the U.S. rescue operation for the downed fighter pilot had “completely failed.” However, it did not mention whether the pilot had been captured.

This statement came after Trump claimed that the officer had been successfully rescued and was safe.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s central military command Khatam Al-Anbiya, stated that the U.S. operation was designed as a deceptive escape mission conducted at an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan under the pretext of rescuing the pilot, but ultimately ended in total failure.

In a video statement broadcast on state television, he added that two C-130 transport aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters were destroyed during the operation.

He further remarked that Trump continued to rely on “empty rhetoric and distraction,” despite facts on the ground showing the strong superiority of Iran’s armed forces.

Iranian state media also released images showing charred wreckage scattered across a desert area, with smoke still rising from the crash site.