A second United States Air Force aircraft was reportedly downed in the Persian Gulf region on Friday (April 3). The incident occurred amid ongoing intensive search and rescue operations, following Iran’s earlier claim that it had shot down a U.S. fighter jet.

According to a New York Times report citing U.S. officials, an A-10 Warthog aircraft crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, almost simultaneously with the downing of an F-15E fighter jet as a result of an Iranian attack. The sole pilot of the A-10 was successfully rescued.

Regarding the F-15E incident, a U.S. official who requested anonymity stated that one of the two crew members had been safely evacuated. Search and rescue teams are still actively combing the area to locate the remaining crew member.

The loss of combat aircraft in this conflict marks a significant escalation in a war that has been ongoing for five weeks and has contributed to a global energy crisis. As of the time of reporting, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has not issued an official statement.

In an interview with NBC News, Donald Trump declined to provide further details about the ongoing rescue operations. However, he emphasized that the incident would not affect the United States’ position in negotiations with Iran.

Trump firmly stated that the event would have no impact whatsoever, stressing that the situation is part of a war. He made the statement during a phone interview.

Two military helicopters involved in the search for the F-15 jet were also reportedly hit by Iranian fire, according to NBC News citing U.S. officials.

Meanwhile, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency claimed that its military had successfully shot down a highly advanced American fighter jet.

Iranian state media had previously made similar claims about downing U.S. aircraft, which were later denied by the United States. On Thursday, the Pentagon, through CENTCOM, stated that claims by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) about shooting down an enemy jet over an island in the Strait of Hormuz were false.

CENTCOM also noted in a social media post that the IRGC has made similar false claims at least half a dozen times.

By Friday, Iran continued to target multiple locations in Arab Gulf countries, just hours after Trump issued new threats against Iranian infrastructure in an effort to pressure Tehran into initiating peace negotiations. The U.S. president even shared a video of a bridge collapse on social media on Thursday, warning that “more will follow” if Iran refuses to negotiate.

Iran has maintained a defiant stance. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that attacks on civilian infrastructure would not force the Iranian people to surrender. So far, there are no signs that Iran will comply with U.S. demands to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt its attacks; instead, Tehran has put forward its own conditions for reaching an agreement.