As the US attack on Iran intensifies, reports began to circulate in Iranian media that the country’s troops managed to shoot down a US F-15E fighter jet. However, the US Central Command has rubbished the reports.
Multiple videos surfaced on social media on Wednesday night, prompting claims that an F-15E Strike Eagle may have been shot down over southwestern Iran. Turkish media outlets began reporting this, adding that the crew managed to abandon the plane and were rescued by IDF forces along with the Americans.
Open intelligence sources added: “The cause of the crash is still unknown, although at least one source has attributed it to Iranian air defences, with both the pilot and navigator successfully ejecting over Iran.”
It added that following the crash, search and rescue forces from the American and Israeli Air Forces - who were on alert in a neighbouring country - were called in and entered Iran about an hour later. The two crew members were found and safely evacuated without further incident, and transferred to Prince Sultan Air Force Base in Saudi Arabia.”
The reports added that the pilot and navigator suffered minor injuries but were in good condition, and both were transported by helicopter to an air force base in Jordan for further treatment.
However, the U.S. Central Command has dismissed as false social media reports . The military command characterised the reports as incorrect. “Rumours circulating on social media of a U.S. F-15E crash in Iran early Wednesday are baseless and NOT TRUE,” the post read.