A US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft was downed near the Strait of Hormuz on April 3 amid escalating tensions in the Iran conflict. Iranian media claimed its air defenses struck the aircraft during an aerial engagement over critical shipping lanes, releasing video footage showing a missile hitting the jet mid-air.
The pilot ejected and was rescued, according to US officials familiar with the matter. The incident occurred alongside the downing of an F-15E Strike Eagle over southwestern Iran, where both crew members ejected; one was rescued while search efforts continue for the second.
Combat search and rescue operations involved US HC-130J Combat King II planes and HH-60 helicopters, with at least one rescue helicopter hit by Iranian ground fire but managing to land. Iranian state media also released photos purportedly showing F-15E wreckage, though US Central Command has not commented.
This marks the first known combat losses of US crewed aircraft in the conflict, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran five weeks prior. US forces maintain air superiority over much of the region despite the incidents.