Pilot No. 2 in the downed aircraft and the team that found him are out of Iran, sources inform Fox. It is an enormous victory for Trump and his special forces. That they managed to carry out the rescue operation without losses may indicate that the shoot-down of the F-15E aircraft was accidental. The area was swarming with Revolutionary Guards, and a price had been set on the pilot’s head. The regime did not obtain that triumph either.

There is no doubt that the Iranian regime and the anti-Trump coalition in the West would have made the utmost of a situation in which the regime had presented the pilot and forced him to dissociate himself from his own president.

The aircraft was shot down on Friday. The first pilot was found immediately. The second has survived for two days in hostile terrain. He may have received assistance from local tribes that hate the regime. There is said to have been an exchange of fire.

The successful rescue operation has enormous significance for morale.

During the Iraq War, the United States lost 75 aircraft.

Trump says that it is one of the boldest and most heroic rescue operations ever. To rescue someone from hostile territory requires great courage. The helicopters must fly low.

Proud of our troops. Proud of our President. Proud to be an American. 🇺🇸

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) April 5, 2026

For Trump, it was a great gift at the beginning of Easter.

WE HAVE GOT HIM OUT SAFELY! My fellow Americans: Over the past few hours, the American military has carried out one of the boldest rescue operations in the history of the United States, to rescue one of our fantastic officers, who is also a highly respected colonel, and who I can now tell you with great pleasure is safe and sound!

This brave warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, hunted by our enemies, who drew closer and closer with each passing hour, but he was never entirely alone, because his Commander-in-Chief, the Secretary of War, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other warriors monitored his position 24 hours a day and diligently planned his rescue.

On my order, the American military dispatched dozens of aircraft, armed with the deadliest weapons in the world, to retrieve him. He sustained injuries, but he will be fine. This miraculous search and rescue operation comes in addition to a successful rescue of another brave pilot yesterday, which we did not confirm, because we did not wish to endanger our second rescue operation.

This is the first time in military history that two American pilots have been rescued, separately, deep within enemy territory. WE WILL NEVER ABANDON AN AMERICAN COMBATANT! The fact that we managed to carry out both of these operations without a single American being killed or wounded once again proves that we have achieved overwhelming air superiority and dominance over Iranian airspace. This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republicans, Democrats and everyone else, should be proud of and stand united behind. We truly have the best, most professional and deadliest military in the history of the world. GOD BLESS AMERICA, GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS, AND HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!