More than 170 American aircraft and some 200 troops took part in the operation to rescue the F-15 crew members, Trump said Monday, an effort that included assistance from the Central Intelligence Agency. - Pilot rescued -More than 20 military aircraft were dispatched to recover the F-15 pilot, flying over Iran and facing heavy enemy fire, Trump said. One helicopter was hit and the crew sustained minor injuries but "are going to be fine." Its pilot then flew the plane to an unidentified country and determined the aircraft was not in landable condition. More than 50 hours after the start of rescue efforts, both of the downed F-15 crew members were back in friendly territory, Caine said.

Source: Bangkok Post April 06, 2026 22:05 UTC