What happens if a U.S. military pilot is captured? Trump: I hope "that kind of situation" doesn't happen.

According to Xinhua News Agency, a U.S. Air Force F-15E “Strike Eagle” twin-seat fighter jet was shot down over Iran on the 3rd. Two pilots ejected and escaped; one was rescued by the U.S. military, while the other is missing.

On that day, U.S. President Trump briefly accepted a phone interview with the British newspaper The Independent. When asked how the U.S. would respond if the pilot were captured or harmed in Iran, Trump said, “I can’t say, because—we hope that such a situation won’t happen.” After that, he ended the call shortly thereafter.

This is the first time that a U.S. fighter jet has been shot down within Iran since the United States and Israel launched a large-scale military operation against Iran on February 28. Iran is offering a bounty for the capture of the missing pilot.

According to a report by Reference News, in the search and rescue for the F-15 fighter pilot, U.S. helicopters carrying out ultra-low-altitude flight were followed and fired upon by Iranian soldiers on the ground using machine guns.

Also, local time on April 3, the spokesperson of the Headquarters for the Central Command of the Iranian Armed Forces, Hatem Ambiya, said that after the U.S. put out false claims that “Iran’s air defense system had been completely destroyed,” U.S. aircraft were shot down over Iran by a newly developed advanced air defense system. This air defense system is operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and is under the control of the country’s integrated air defense network.

According to a report by Red Star News, at first, Iran claimed that it had shot down an F-35, but the debris photos released later showed that they were fragments of an F-15E fighter jet. This model of aircraft is typically based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, England. Iran’s state media published a photo that has not been verified, showing the tail of a jet aircraft bearing the words “U.S. Air Forces in Europe.”

Although the F-15 is not as advanced as the newer F-35 fighter, in the past few weeks it has been widely used by the U.S. military in its offensive operations against Iran. If the aircraft that was shot down had taken off from a U.S. base in the United Kingdom, this could embarrass the UK. Previously, UK Prime Minister Starmer had said that British bases are used by the U.S. only for “defensive” operations.

The tail of the fighter jet wreckage published by Iranian media bears the words “U.S. Air Forces in Europe,” according to CCTV News

The loss of the fighter jet and the search for the missing pilot are a blow to the U.S. military, which claims to have “absolute air superiority” over Iran.

A picture of debris from a U.S. fighter jet released by Iranian media, according to CCTV Military

Mona Yakubian, director of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, believes this incident could lead to an escalation of the war: “If footage of a U.S. fighter pilot being captured—being shown as a prisoner of war—were to be aired, it would intensify anti-war sentiment in the United States, because this conflict would become more directly visible to people, appearing on their computer screens.”

According to the special program “East Watch Military Intelligence” of CGTN’s Global Television, for the bombing carried out within Iran, the dual-seat F-15E is one of the main fighter aircraft in the U.S. Air Force. The F-15E has many external hardpoints, a long range, and strong self-defense capabilities. It can carry bunker-busting munitions and guided bombs to strike targets such as underground shelters, drone launch sites, and ballistic missile launch vehicles.

If the F-15E were shot down, it would be sufficient to show that Iran’s air defense operational system still has strength. Previously, some maneuver-deployed medium- and long-range air defense missile launchers and short-range air defense launcher vehicles were likely hidden in underground shelters or secret locations. They have now been deployed around key targets, setting up ambushes “waiting to catch prey” for aircraft from the United States and Israel. Therefore, they are able to launch attacks unexpectedly and achieve results.

The fate and ultimate whereabouts of the U.S. pilot aboard the F-15E will have a relatively large impact on the current direction of the war situation.

First, after U.S. rescue forces composed of HC-130J aircraft and HH-60 helicopters enter Iranian airspace, they may be subjected again to air defense firepower.

Second, once the U.S. pilot is killed by Iran or captured by Iran and then displayed to the public through the media, the decision-makers who escalated the conflict will face stronger anti-war voices within the United States, which in turn will affect subsequent military decisions.

Third, even if the U.S. military successfully rescues the pilot and the rescue force suffers no casualties, this incident will still cause the U.S. military to re-evaluate the risks brought by airstrikes.

(Source: Economic Daily News)