Iran claims to shoot down three US aircraft involved in pilot search

Iran's military announced its forces shot down two helicopters and one C-130 aircraft participating in the search operation for a US pilot.

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Command, responsible for the armed forces' combat operations, stated today: "Enemy intrusive aircraft south of Isfahan, including two Black Hawk helicopters and one C-130 military transport aircraft, were hit and are burning."

Iran's IRIB television and radio station posted a video described as the wreckage of two Black Hawk helicopters and one C-130 transport aircraft. The footage shows charred debris on the ground, including an object resembling a helicopter rotor blade and several objects appearing to be large engines.

According to Fars news agency, Iran's Faraj police special unit destroyed the C-130. Fars added: "This is a desperate attempt by Trump to cover up a major failure."

The US Department of Defense and the Pentagon have not commented on the information.

Scene of a US aircraft burning in Iran on 5/4. Video: Tasnim

Two crew members on an F-15E Strike Eagle ejected when the fighter was shot down in Iran on 3/4. While the front cockpit pilot was quickly rescued, the weapon systems officer, also known as the back cockpit pilot, remained stranded in Iran. This incident prompted the US to activate an emergency search operation.

The rescue operation took place on the evening of 4/4, mobilizing hundreds of special forces soldiers, dozens of fighter jets, helicopters, along with cyber and space intelligence capabilities, and various other reconnaissance assets.

The New York Times, citing an anonymous US official, reported that after the pilot's rescue, two transport aircraft tasked with bringing the special forces team and pilot to safety became stranded at a remote base in Iran. Commanders then decided to deploy three other aircraft to evacuate all US personnel. They "blew up the two disabled aircraft rather than letting them fall into Iranian hands."

The open-source intelligence social media account OSINTWarfare stated that one C-130 transport aircraft involved in the pilot search in southwest Iran "became stuck, unable to move." US Delta special forces subsequently destroyed this aircraft.