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Dual Aircraft Downings
Iranian forces shot down two U.S. Air Force combat aircraft on April 3, 2026.
“A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran”
An F-15E Strike Eagle was downed over Iran, and an A-10 Thunderbolt II crashed near the Strait of Hormuz.
Both F-15E crew members ejected; one was rescued, the other remained missing.
The A-10 pilot was rescued.
Iranian state media initially misidentified the F-15E as an F-35.
Rescue Efforts Under Fire
US forces launched an intensive combat search-and-rescue operation.
Two Black Hawk helicopters were damaged by Iranian fire during the rescue.
The A-10 went down during this rescue effort, raising questions about its role.
Temporary flight restrictions were imposed in a busy commercial corridor.
Aircraft Role Debate
The A-10 is designed for close air support and is one of the oldest US combat aircraft.
“The A-10, affectionately known as the Warthog, entered service with the US Air Force in the 1970s”
Its low-speed design makes it vulnerable in high-threat environments.
Congress had ordered at least 103 A-10s to remain in service through September 2026.
The F-15E costs roughly $31 million per jet.
Casualties and Aftermath
The Pentagon confirmed six US service members killed across three days of strikes.
The Guardian reported the Iranian Red Crescent's toll of 201 dead.
At least 153 children were killed at a girls' school in Minab struck by a US-Israeli cruise missile.
Trump threatened to continue strikes with ferocious, unyielding resolve.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found only 27% of Americans approved.