On Monday, President Trump held a press conference to share the moment when the United States successfully located the missing crew members of the F-15E fighter jet. The jet was shot down last week while carrying out a mission in Iranian airspace. Two crew members ejected and were rescued by the military. The weapons systems officer, a colonel, went missing and was found injured.
President Trump described how CIA Director John Ratcliffe informed him of the moment they found the missing colonel. Surveillance systems had detected movement on a mountain ridge, prompting the CIA to take action to rescue the individual.
The President mentioned that the injured colonel was in a dangerous area filled with Iranian Revolutionary Guard members. Despite the perilous conditions, the colonel followed his training and climbed to higher altitudes to avoid capture. According to Fox News, the colonel sustained leg injuries during ejection and hiked over 7,000 feet before being rescued.
The military has not disclosed the identity of the rescued officer, who is currently in good condition and has been transported to a U.S. military base in Landstuhl, Germany.
President Trump praised the AH-6 “Little Bird” helicopter for its crucial role in the rescue operation inside Iran. He highlighted the agility and effectiveness of the small helicopters, emphasizing their ability to access specific areas where larger aircraft cannot reach.
These helicopters, which can fold their rotors for transportation on larger planes, are versatile in performing various missions such as light attack, troop insertion and extraction, and combat search and rescue.
President Trump detailed how the helicopters were transported to Iran by large cargo planes, rapidly assembled on the ground, and deployed to rescue the missing colonel.
“They unloaded the helicopters, and within less than 10 minutes, all three helicopters were assembled. It’s truly incredible,” said Trump.