U.S. F-15E Pilot Shot Down Twice in Weeks — First Since Vietnam
An American F-15E Strike Eagle pilot has become the first U.S. Air Force fixed-wing aviator likely shot down twice in the same conflict since the Vietnam War, according to The High Side.
The pilot was among three F-15E crews mistakenly engaged by Kuwaiti air defenses on March 1, 2026, during the early days of U.S.-Iran hostilities. All six airmen ejected safely after a Kuwaiti F/A-18 reportedly opened fire amid confusion from Iranian missile and drone attacks.
Less than five weeks later, on April 3, the same pilot was shot down over western Iran by an Iranian missile.
Both he and his weapons systems officer ejected. The pilot was recovered relatively quickly, but his WSO required a complex special operations rescue involving SEAL Team 6 and other elite units after a parachute malfunction left him injured behind enemy lines. Both crew members were successfully extracted.
The back to back incidents highlight the intense risks of coalition air operations, challenges in friendly force coordination, and the effectiveness of modern combat search and rescue. With multiple F-15E losses reported in the conflict, the pilot’s survival twice in rapid succession is being called extraordinary by Air Force officials.
The U.S. military has not publicly named the aviator for security reasons.
