World News Tonight with David Muir Full Episode: Friday, April 3, 2026
Apr 4, 2026
Martha Raddatz, senior global affairs correspondent known for frontline international reporting, leads the coverage. She details the downing of U.S. fighter jets and the perilous search-and-rescue operation. Short reports cover regional strikes, White House briefings and rising gas prices. The program also touches on severe weather threats and human-interest moments like the Artemis II crew interview.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Iran Downs U.S. F-15 And Rescue Mission Intensifies
- Iran successfully downed a U.S. manned F-15, marking the first such loss since this war began and triggering an urgent combat search and rescue operation.
- Multiple rescue aircraft, including Black Hawks and an A-10 providing cover, came under Iranian fire while one crew member was rescued and the other remained missing.
Wreckage Images Aid Search But Raise Questions
- Ejection seats and wreckage images released by Iranian media helped locate the crash area but remain credible yet unverified by U.S. officials.
- Pilots train at SEER (survive, evasion, resistance, escape), so separated ejections and one missing crew member are unusual and concerning.
Public Claims Versus Battlefield Reality
- Despite recent U.S. claims Iran lacked anti-aircraft capability, multiple U.S. aircraft were struck, contradicting those public assessments.
- An A-10 was shot down during the rescue and Black Hawks were hit, highlighting Iranian air-defense reach.