How news of downed jet and pilots’ rescue unfolded, day by daypublished at 07:43 BST
07:43 BST
US President Donald Trump is celebrating the recovery of a second US airman after a fighter jet was shot down over Iran, capping off a high-stakes rescue mission that unfolded over the course of the weekend.
Here’s a day by day look at how the news broke.
On Friday, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported the US was searching for one of its pilots after a jet was reportedly downed over Iran. This was later confirmed to multiple Western media outlets by US officials, who said the jet was an F-15E.
The governor of Iran’s southern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province said the priority was “capturing” any downed US crew “alive”, with a reward offered for their capture.
Shortly before 12:00 EDT (16:00 GMT), CBS reported one crew member from the downed F-15 fighter jet has been rescued, according to two US officials.
The outlet went on to report two aircraft involved in the rescue mission also came under fire. An A-10 Warthog was hit, with the pilot ejecting over the Gulf, where he was rescued. Crew members onboard a helicopter carrying the recovered pilot were treated after being injured by small arms fire.
There were limited updates on the search on Saturday.
Just before 00:00 EDT (04:00 GMT) today, Sunday, US media reported the second pilot had been found.
Minutes later, Trump took to Truth Social to say the missing pilot is “SAFE and SOUND” and that while he sustained injuries “he will be just fine”.