05.04.2026 23:43
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that they were "worried that Iran might be trying to lure them into a trap" before the operation carried out to rescue the lost crew of the F-15 fighter jet shot down in Iran. Trump explained that the reason for the suspicion was the weapons systems officer sending a short and unusual message over the radio after being ejected from the aircraft, saying, "The power is of God."
US President Donald Trump made statements to the US media regarding the rescue operation of a crew member stranded in the mountainous terrain after an F-15 fighter jet was shot down in southern Iran last Friday. Trump said they were initially concerned that the message from the crew member could be a trick used by the Iranians to lure US forces into a trap.
"THEY GOT LUCKY"
In his statement about the personnel who survived for more than a day in the mountainous terrain despite being injured, Trump said, "Thousands of barbarians were hunting him. Even the local people were searching for him. They were offering rewards for anyone who found him." Trump announced that around 200 soldiers participated in the operation to rescue the crew member, who was the weapon systems officer of the F-15 fighter jet. Trump stated that the fighter jet was hit by a shoulder-fired missile. Regarding the situation, Trump said, "They got lucky." Trump mentioned that the pilot was hiding in a crevice in the mountain and that the US managed to locate the officer thanks to technological capabilities.
THE PILOT'S LAST MESSAGE RAISED "TRAP" SUSPICIONS
Trump explained that after receiving the radio message from the officer, the US side suspected that the pilot might have fallen into Iranian hands and that the Iranians were sending misleading signals to lure US forces into a trap. Trump stated that the weapon systems officer sent a short and unusual message over the radio after being ejected from the aircraft, saying, "The power is God's." Trump remarked, "The message he sent over the radio sounded like something a Muslim might say." President Trump explained that those who knew the pilot confirmed that he was a religious person and that he could use such expressions.
Trump's statements were also confirmed by a defense official who spoke to the press, but the message from the officer was expressed as "God is good." The defense official also stated, "Initially, the situation was not very clear, but we confirmed that he was alive and not captured. Those who knew him said he was a religious person."
DAYTIME OPERATION FOR THE PILOT, NIGHTTIME OPERATION FOR THE WEAPON SYSTEMS OFFICER
US President Trump stated that the pilot of the F-15 was rescued much more quickly, during the daytime and under heavy fire from the Iranians. A defense official who spoke to the press reported that the first operation conducted last Friday to rescue the pilot was a daring and rapid snatch operation, while the operation conducted on Saturday for the weapon systems officer took place after a temporary base was established inside Iran at night. The defense official said, "The two crew members were a few miles apart. There were hundreds of members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in the vicinity."
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on April 3 that it had shot down a fighter jet in the central parts of the country using air defense systems. Iranian media reported that the pilot of the US fighter jet might have been captured and taken prisoner.
Officials speaking to the US media confirmed that the aircraft had crashed, stating that one crew member had been rescued and that search and rescue efforts were ongoing for the second person. The New York Times reported that almost simultaneously with the F-15 fighter jet, a second US fighter jet was also shot down near the Strait of Hormuz. The report indicated that the pilot of the aircraft survived the incident.
US President Donald Trump announced that they had also rescued the second pilot of the F-15E fighter jet shot down in Iran on April 3.
Source: AA / IHA