From the Liveblog of
Sunday, April 5, 2026
Report: Downed US airman couldn’t make contact at first because he was concussed; US destroyed own rescue planes to avoid Iran taking them
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
Quoting unnamed, apparently Israeli sources, Channel 12 offers specific details of how the rescue of the second US F-15 crewmember played out, including high drama when the two main US rescue plans got stuck in the sand and were blown up by American bombs.
The weapons systems officer was unconscious and lightly concussed from his landing, and therefore was unable to make initial contact with US forces after ejecting and landing in Iran on Friday morning, the report says.
At noon, Israel time, he made contact from the highest point he could find to avoid being captured.
He then walked 10-12 kilometers (6-7.5 miles), hid in a crevice, and on Friday night sent a specific location, the report says.
Israel refrained from attacking in that area and helped with specific intelligence, the sources said. This contradicts American accounts, which say Israel provided only general intelligence assistance.
Over Friday and Saturday, Israel was asked by the US to assist in ensuring air supremacy in the area, and attacked “relevant targets.”
Ahead of the rescue, the Americans took control of some kind of mini-airfield or agricultural field and secured it, according to the report. Two US C-130 planes with Little Bird helicopters landed there.
The helicopters then flew to extricate the crewman from his hiding place and returned with him, in “exhausted” condition, to the secured field.
When the aircraft were taking off, there was “real drama” when the C-130s got stuck in the sand and were unable to lift off. Three lighter aircraft were called in and they evacuated the crewman and the rest of the 90-strong rescue team, the report says.
US warplanes then blew up the C-130s, as later seen in Iranian propaganda pictures, so that they would not fall intact into Iranian hands.
The Times of Israel Community.