Nightline: War with Iran War with Iran: Day 35
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Apr 4, 2026 A downed U.S. fighter jet and an urgent search-and-rescue push to recover the remaining pilot. How pilot evasion training and transponders guide high-stakes recoveries. White House briefings and presidential remarks about ongoing military actions. Regional strikes on Gulf neighbors and the reported toll on personnel and bases.
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F-15 Shootdown Inside Iran Changes Rescue Calculus
- A U.S. F-15 two-seater was reportedly shot down inside Iran, creating a rare escalation with one crew member rescued and one missing.
- Videos and Iranian state media showed wreckage, ejection seat images, and offers of rewards for captured crew, suggesting confirmed recovery challenges.
Rescue Forces Took Direct Fire During Recovery Attempts
- Combat search-and-rescue teams used C-130s, Black Hawks, and aerial refueling while rescue helicopters took fire during the mission.
- One A-10 was also shot down after Iranians aimed at rescue aircraft, highlighting extreme risk to recovery forces.
Pilot Recounts SEER Training And Expected Post‑Ejection Procedures
- Casey Talbot, an F-18 pilot, described SEER survival training that prepares aviators to evade capture after ejection.
- He explained ejection seats land pilots near each other with transponders guiding rescue teams, making the missing crew separation unusual.