US pilot recalls ‘terrifying’ moment after his plane was shot down over Iran

US pilot recalls ‘terrifying’ moment after his plane was shot down over Iran James C. Reynolds Monday 14 September 2026 10:27 BST Bookmark popover Removed from bookmarks Close popover US Air Force officer recalls 'free-falling' to ground with damaged parachute after plane was shot down over Iran An American Air Force colonel, known as Bravo, has revealed how he survived for two days in the Iranian mountains with a broken back, arm and shoulder after his jet was shot down on 3 April. Bravo's F-15E Strike Eagle was hit by an Iranian missile , damaging his parachute and causing him to free-fall into a valley at speeds of up to 100mph. Despite his severe injuries, the officer climbed to a 7,000ft ridgeline armed only with a handgun to evade approaching Iranian forces. While the jet's pilot was rescued on the day of the incident under fire, Bravo spent more than 50 hours behind enemy lines with virtually no food or water. The CIA executed a rescue mission using top-secret tracking technology and a deception campaign to retrieve Bravo, despite Iranian claims framing the operation as a covert plot. In full US pilot survived for two days behind enemy lines with broken back after Iran shot down plane: ‘It was terrifying’