CNN’s Jim Sciutto revealed that several U.S. government sources confirmed Iranian state TV’s claim on Friday that a search and rescue operation is underway to locate the two pilots of a downed U.S. fighter jet over Southwestern Iran.
“It is our understanding that this is a U.S. fighter jet — not Israeli — and I don’t have to say how significant it is to have U.S. pilots down on enemy territory during wartime. This would certainly be the first time in this war, I think you’d have to go back to Yugoslavia in the 1990s for a previous incident of this,” Sciutto said.
“It’s the first time since the beginning of the war that a U.S. jet was downed by enemy fire. The sources said the aircraft had a two-person crew. On Friday, Iranian state media published pictures and videos that allegedly show parts of the downed plane and one of the ejection seats. The photos and videos suggest it is an F-15 fighter jet. Iranian state television channels called on civilians in the area where the jet was downed to search for the crew members, and said whoever finds them will be rewarded by the government,” Axios reported.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that the recent U.S. strike on Iran was designed to permanently eliminate what he described as the country’s nuclear threat. He said the mission had been clear “from day one.”
“This was the final, best chance to wipe out Iran’s threat for good — so they can never have a nuclear weapon,” Rubio said in a video shared on X. He added that Iran could pursue civilian nuclear energy but accused Tehran of building hidden facilities capable of enriching material to weapons-grade levels, Fox News reported.
“They build their reactors and their facilities deep in mountains away from the public glare,” Rubio said. “The same equipment that they could use to enrich material for energy they could use to quickly enrich it to weapons-grade.”
WATCH:
A McDonnell-Douglas ACES II (Advanced Concept Ejection Seat) from a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle has been found by residents in Southern Iran, the whereabouts or status of the pilot and weapons officer is currently unknown, with unconfirmed reports that one or both of the… pic.twitter.com/V0KMonfQiv
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 3, 2026
BREAKING: US Air Force aircraft flying low and inside Iran on search and rescue mission pic.twitter.com/eFTwvshsqh
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) April 3, 2026
CNN: U.S. Confirms F-15 Shot Down Over SW Iran, Search And Rescue Mission Underway To Find Pilotshttps://t.co/xcpp9EDWKn
"It is reportedly a U.S. fighter jet – not Israeli – and I don't have to say how significant it is to have U.S. pilots down on enemy territory." pic.twitter.com/Cy2IadX5mm
— RealClearPolitics (@RCPolitics) April 3, 2026
Rubio warned that Iran had been close to developing a large stockpile of missiles and drones that could shield its nuclear program. He called that scenario an “intolerable risk” and said the U.S. operation also aims to degrade those capabilities.
Speaking on “Hannity,” Rubio said the U.S. remains open to direct talks with Tehran while maintaining a hard stance on negotiations. He warned that the administration would not allow talks to be used as a delay tactic.
“There is the potential for a direct meeting at some point,” Rubio said. “But what President Trump is not going to allow is fake negotiations to be used as a delay tactic.”
Rubio said the U.S. is “very, very close” to achieving its objectives in dealing with Iran. He also claimed recent U.S. actions had weakened Tehran significantly.
“This is the weakest Iran has been in 25 years,” Rubio said. “This is the weakest Iran has ever been.”
Rubio told host Sean Hannity that Iran had been working toward missile capabilities that could eventually reach the continental United States. He compared Tehran’s ambitions to those of North Korea.
“That’s what they were aiming to do,” Rubio said. “They were aiming to become the next North Korea.”
