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Iran Missile Shot Down F-15E Near Isfahan, Crews Eject

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 4:37 PM UTC · How we work

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Declassified rescue footage

An U.S. Air Force F-15E was hit by an Iranian missile near Isfahan on April 2, 2026, causing both crew members to eject.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth privately urged the crew to consider a 60 Minutes interview after they initially resisted participation.
Declassified footage showed a helicopter raid rescuing one airman in six hours and the other two days later, while revealing Bravo’s parachute failure and severe injuries.

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Political interview pressure

An Iranian missile struck a U.S. Air Force F-15E near Isfahan on April 2, 2026, forcing its two crew members to eject.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pressured the airmen to appear on a “60 Minutes” interview to shape a political narrative about the Iran conflict.
One crew member, call sign “Bravo,” accepted the interview while “Alpha” refused.
Uniformed service members warned the broadcast could serve political ends and expose classified rescue details.

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Declassified rescue footage

An U.S. Air Force F-15E was hit by an Iranian missile near Isfahan on April 2, 2026, causing both crew members to eject.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth privately urged the crew to consider a 60 Minutes interview after they initially resisted participation.
Declassified footage showed a helicopter raid rescuing one airman in six hours and the other two days later, while revealing Bravo’s parachute failure and severe injuries.

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