A U.S. Air Force officer has described the terrifying experience of "free-falling" with a damaged parachute after his F-15E fighter jet was shot down over Iran, an incident that led to a complex rescue operation. The officer, identified by the pseudonym "Bravo" in a CBS News "60 Minutes" program, spoke for the first time about the ordeal that occurred in April.
During the incident, both U.S. airmen ejected from the damaged aircraft and were separated. They then had to evade Iranian forces while awaiting extraction by U.S. special forces. "At one point when I looked up and saw no parachute, that was the most terrifying thing I've ever seen," Bravo told CBS News. He described his survival as "a miracle," despite sustaining a broken back, shoulder, and arm from the high-speed impact with the ground, estimated between 70 and 100 mph.
The F-15E jet, a two-seat aircraft valued at approximately $30 million, was reportedly brought down by a shoulder-fired missile costing around $100,000. Bravo recounted that, even with his injuries, he climbed a tall ridgeline, fearing capture by Iranian forces. "Never let a lack of motivation put you on Iranian TV," he stated.
The other airman, identified as "Alpha," declined to be interviewed. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that Alpha was rescued within six hours amidst intense fighting. "It was a gun fight all the way in and all the way out," Hegseth said, confirming Alpha's safe return.
Bravo was recovered after 48 hours behind enemy lines. During the rescue operation, over 90 U.S. service members were on the ground inside Iran, according to Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper. This marked the first time in 46 years that American forces had operated within Iran. The evacuation efforts faced challenges, with planes and helicopters getting stuck in desert sand and requiring destruction, while special forces waited for backup crews. The operation to recover the downed aircrew saw the first U.S. boots on the ground in Iran in 46 years, officials said.