Badly wounded U.S. Air Force officer climbed 7,000 foot Iranian ridgeline to hide after being shot down

Updated on: September 13, 2026 / 8:46 PM EDT / CBS News

Badly wounded U.S. Air Force officer climbed 7,000 foot Iranian ridgeline to hide after being shot down

TL;DR

  • A U.S. F-15E fighter jet was shot down over Iran by a shoulder-fired missile, with its two crew members ejecting.
  • One officer, Bravo, survived a damaged parachute and a fall estimated at 70-100 mph, sustaining multiple fractures and injuries.
  • Despite his injuries, Bravo climbed a 7,000-foot Iranian ridgeline to avoid capture and search parties.
  • The U.S. military launched a massive search and rescue operation, involving hundreds of personnel and multiple aircraft.
  • The pilot, Alpha, was rescued first in a daytime raid, followed by a larger nighttime operation to extract Bravo.
  • The rescue mission involved deception tactics, advanced technology to pinpoint Bravo's location, and air support to clear the area.
  • The U.S. Air Force's 926th Special Operations Wing played a crucial role in the extraction, using specialized helicopters.
  • After Bravo's recovery, the U.S. military bombed its own stranded aircraft to prevent technology from falling into Iranian hands.
  • The entire operation lasted 50 hours, successfully bringing both officers back to safety.
  • The mission highlighted the U.S. military's commitment to 'leave no man behind'.