U.S. fighter jet shot down in Iran, search underway for crew - Axios

Axios
April 3, 2026
3 min read

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A U.S. fighter jet was shot down over Iran with search and rescue operations underway for the crew.

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A U.S. fighter jet has been shot down over Iran, with search and rescue operations underway for the crew. The incident marks a direct military confrontation between the United States and Iran, escalating tensions in a region already strained by broader geopolitical conflicts. The loss of an aircraft and crew would be a significant development in U.S.-Iran military dynamics and could trigger broader questions about American operations in Iranian airspace. Search and rescue teams are mobilizing, though details about the jet's mission, the circumstances of the shootdown, and crew status remain unclear. The incident comes amid heightened U.S. military activity in the Middle East.

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Search and rescue teams are mobilizing to locate the crew.

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U.S. fighter jet shot down in Iran, search underway for crew
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U.S. fighter jet shot down in Iran, search underway for crew

<p><a href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">Iran</a> has shot down a U.S. fighter jet, per Iranian media and a source familiar with the incident, and a search and rescue effort is underway to locate two crew.</p><p><strong>The big picture:</strong> It would be the first time since the beginning of the war that a U.S. jet was downed by enemy fire.</p><hr><ul><li>The U.S. military and the White House didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news:</strong> On Friday, Iranian state media published pictures and videos that allegedly show parts of the downed plane and one of the ejection seats.</p><ul><li>The photos and videos suggest it is an F-15 fighter jet.</li></ul><p><em>This is breaking news.</em></p>

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