Missing U.S. crew member from downed fighter jet rescued in Iran, sources say

Politics Missing U.S. crew member from downed fighter jet rescued in Iran, sources say By James LaPorta, James LaPorta National security coordinating producer James LaPorta is the national security coordinating producer for the CBS News' Washington bureau. He is a former U.S. Marine veteran infantryman and veteran of the Afghanistan war. Read Full Bio James LaPorta, Eleanor Watson, Eleanor Watson CBS News Reporter Eleanor Watson is a CBS News multi-platform reporter and producer covering the Pentagon. Read Full Bio Eleanor Watson, Jennifer Jacobs, Jennifer Jacobs Senior White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs is a senior White House reporter at CBS News. Read Full Bio Jennifer Jacobs, Faris Tanyos Faris Tanyos News Editor Faris Tanyos is a news editor for CBSNews.com, where he writes and edits stories and tracks breaking news. He previously worked as a digital news producer at several local news stations up and down the West Coast. Read Full Bio Faris Tanyos April 5, 2026 / 12:03 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google A U.S. crew member who went missing when an F-15E fighter jet was shot down over a remote area of Iran was rescued by U.S. forces early Sunday morning local time, multiple U.S. officials told CBS News. The jet's pilot was rescued Friday. The crew member's condition was unclear. U.S. officials had told CBS News the jet was carrying a two-person crew when it was downed by Iranian forces Friday. Iranian Revolutionary Guards took credit for the strike, alleging the jet was brought down in southwestern Iran Friday morning. Photos of debris that Iranian media said showed the wreckage of the downed U.S. fighter jet appeared consistent with an American F-15, two weapons experts told CBS News.The pilot of the F-15E had safely ejected and was rescued by two military helicopters, U.S. officials previously said, but the second crew member, a weapons system officer, had remained missing.During Friday's recovery efforts, a U.S. chopper carrying the res...