Crew member from downed US warplane rescued after 'heavy firefight'

According to reports, the crew member has been recovered but has not yet been flown from Iran - and the special rescue mission remains in progress as of Sunday morning UK time

Picture of an ejector seat posted by account linked to IRGC(Image: IRGCIntelli/X)

Reports suggest that the second crew member from a downed US warplane has now been recovered after a 'heavy firefight'.

A US government official has told Al Jazeera that the second crew member from the downed F-15E has now been found - the official has stated, however, that the rescue operation is still in progress.

The missing crew member is confirmed rescued, they said - but is not safe yet. The rescue team must still successfully exfiltrate from Iran and get back to safety.

Iran shot down a F15-E Strike Eagle fighter jet Friday, with one service member getting rescued and the search then desperately being conducted for the second US officials say.

The last time a U.S. warplane was shot down by enemy fire in combat was an A-10 Thunderbolt II during the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, said retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell, a former F-16 fighter pilot.

An F-15 Strike Eagle - same as warplane downed over Iran

A US F-15 Strike Eagle (stock)(Image: Loop Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

US special forces have reportedly conducted a rescue operation for the downed pilot in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran, following clashes with the Basij Resistance Forces.

US airstrikes have reportedly targeted communication towers in Dehdasht, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, attempting to disrupt communication and coordination of Iranian forces.

It comes as Donald Trump warned Iran to open the crucial Strait of Hormuz by his Monday deadline and Tehran called his threat “unbalanced and foolish.”