US pilot survived two days in Iran with broken back after plane downed, tell me about this news in (https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/us-pilot-survived-two-days-in-iran-with-broken-back-after-plane-downed/ar-AA2ca3U7?ocid=BingNewsVerp)
14-09-2026
This news recounts the harrowing survival story of a United States Air Force officer who was downed behind enemy lines in Iran.Key Details of the Incident
- The Incident: An American F-15E Strike Eaglecarrying pilot “Alpha” and weapons systems officer “Bravo” (flying under call sign Dude 44)was struck by an Iranian shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile during a strike mission south of Isfahan.
- The Fall and Injuries: Both crew members ejected, but the missile damage compromised Bravo’s parachute. He plummeted in a near free-fall, hitting the rocky ground at an estimated 70 to 100 mph. The impact fractured his back, arm, and shoulder, alongside other injuries.
- Evasion and Survival: Despite multiple broken bones, Bravo relied on his SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) training. Realizing Iranian search teams were hunting for them, he climbed up toward a 7,000-foot desert ridgeline to take high ground. He remained hidden in rugged mountain crevices for nearly 50 hours with virtually no food or water, managing minimal radio transmissions to avoid detection.
- The Rescue Operation: While the pilot (“Alpha”) was rescued within hours during an intense daytime firefight, locating Bravo took two days. The broader extraction evolved into one of the most complex combat search-and-rescue operations in recent U.S. military history:
- The CIA coordinated a deception campaign to divert Iranian forces away from his location.
- Over 90 American personnel were deployed on the ground inside Iranian territory to execute the rescue.
- Bravo was safely extracted on Easter Sunday morning after surviving nearly 50 hours in enemy territory.