Three U.S. officials announced Friday that a U.S. F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Iran.
In a separate incident on the same day, a U.S. military A-10 Thunderbolt was attacked, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter.
Here’s what we know so far about the two planes.
According to two sources, the US military has begun search and rescue operations for the downed fighter jet. Officials said one of the two crew members was rescued and is receiving treatment in U.S. custody. The status of the other service members is unknown.
A US source also confirmed that the aircraft was an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet.
Video geolocated by CNN showed military planes flying low over Khuzestan province in central Iran, apparently as part of a search and rescue operation.
It was the first time a U.S. manned aircraft was shot down over Iran during the conflict. Near the start of the war, three F-15s were accidentally shot down in a mutual attack by Kuwaiti air defenses.
An A-10 Thunderbolt II, affectionately known as the Warthog, was attacked by Iran on Friday, forcing the pilot to eject, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter.
The pilot was able to fly the plane out of Iranian territory before ejecting and was later rescued, the official said.
Iran’s military claimed the plane crashed and crashed into the Persian Gulf after Iranian air defenses targeted it near the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media reported, citing a statement from the military’s press office.
Kevin Liptak, Michael Rios, Haley Britzky, Alayna Treene, Allegra Goodwin, Brad Lendon, Isaac Yee and Kristen Holmes contributed reporting.
