Trending Now - F-15E Pilot Survives Two Shootdowns During Iran Conflict

WHO:

NY Post - The pilot of the F-15E fighter jet.

CBS News - Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine.

CBS News - Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula, Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

WHAT:

NY Post - The pilot was shot down and rescued in Iran.

CBS News - The pilot was shot down twice during the Iran conflict.

CBS News - The pilot was involved in a friendly fire incident where three F-15E Strike Eagles were mistakenly shot down.

CBS News - The pilot was forced to eject from the F-15E after it was hit by a surface-to-air missile on April 3.

CBS News - The pilot sustained serious injuries and was rescued after several hours; a second crew member was rescued after nearly two days in hiding.

CBS News - Gen. Caine stated that the courage of the pilot and the weapons system officer cannot be overstated.

WHERE:

NY Post - The incidents occurred over Iran and Kuwait.

WHEN:

CBS News - The friendly fire incident occurred in the opening days of the Iran war.

CBS News - The pilot was shot down by an Iranian missile on April 3.

WHY:

CBS News - The pilot was involved in a friendly fire incident due to a Kuwaiti fighter jet mistakenly shooting down F-15E Strike Eagles.

HOW:

CBS News - The pilot ejected from the aircraft during both incidents.

(UPDATED June 2, 2026 23:31 UTC)

In a dramatic series of events, an F-15E fighter jet pilot was shot down twice during the ongoing conflict in Iran, with the first incident involving a friendly fire mishap where three F-15E Strike Eagles were mistakenly targeted by a Kuwaiti fighter jet. The pilot was forced to eject after being hit by a surface-to-air missile on April 3, sustaining serious injuries, while a second crew member was rescued after nearly two days in hiding. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine praised the courage of both the pilot and the weapons system officer, emphasizing their bravery during these harrowing incidents over Iran and Kuwait.