For the first time, one of the two crew members rescued in Iran from an American F-15 has told his story. The man's aircraft was shot down by Iran. He had broken his back, arm, and shoulder after a hard landing, but nevertheless managed to cover a large distance to hide.
"I was injured, but we all train to deal with the things that come our way," said the crew member 'Bravo' to 60 Minutes. In the interview, he extensively recounts the success story in what the CBS television program otherwise calls an expensive and unpopular war.
The man's real name is kept secret due to threats from Iran. The other occupant, pilot Alpha, did not want to respond on the broadcast. He is back in active service and publicity could be detrimental.
The man's rescue was captured on video:
The aircraft was flying on April 2 in mountainous terrain south of the city of Isfahan when things went wrong. Probably a missile from a portable launcher fatally struck the jet. "It was like being hit by a freight train," Bravo states.
"We did everything we could to save the plane. When it quickly became clear that was not possible, we used our ejection seats. Suddenly we were floating in the air over the heart of Iran."
In the air, his parachute was damaged. "At one point I looked up and saw no parachute anymore. That was the most terrifying thing I have ever seen," he says.
Prayer
After a quick prayer, he tried to further unfold the parachute but still hit the ground hard. "Based on my description and the injuries I sustained, experts think I landed on the ground at a speed between 110 and 160 kilometers per hour."
Pilot Alpha landed about 8 kilometers from Bravo and hid in another location.
Although severely injured from the impact, Bravo calls it a miracle that he survived the fall at all and was even able to follow his training: "I wanted to get away from my landing spot as fast as I could, despite my injuries."
In the twilight, he decided that in the inhospitable area a 2-kilometer-high mountain ridge offered the best chance of survival. By willpower, he covered that distance despite his injuries. "I did not want to end up on Iranian TV due to lack of motivation," he now expresses.
Iranian Manhunt
Meanwhile, in the US, Defense Secretary Hegseth was awakened for the rescue mission. Iran had meanwhile put a bounty on the Americans' heads and armed fighters were already searching for them. They approached the men to within a few hundred meters.
Alpha was able to escape first, in the first American ground operation in Iran since 1980, when a failed rescue operation for hostage embassy personnel cost eight soldiers their lives. This time it was a success, although it was extremely dangerous to fly two rescue helicopters in daylight. "It was a firefight the entire way there and back," said Hegseth.
An attempt to locate Bravo was still unsuccessful at that time. That evening, however, a first message came from him: "I am injured but can move." A new rescue operation could only take place a day later.
Massive Rescue Operation
To increase Bravo's chances of survival, Iranian troops nearby were bombarded. Meanwhile, a commando team of 92 men prepared to retrieve him, supported by thousands of others, making it one of the largest rescue operations ever. "I don't know all the details, but I'm glad they did it," Bravo responds.
Two planes landed in the desert to deploy two rescue helicopters. They soon made contact with Bravo. Drone footage shows how two commandos reached him and helped him to escape. "Seeing them come to me on that ridge was one of the most beautiful moments of my life."
Bravo does not give details about what was said in that first contact, only that he himself responded with "Let's go."
One Hundred Americans Stranded
Back at the landing site, the landing gears of both planes were stuck in the desert sand. Now nearly one hundred Americans were stranded. Hastily, a second team was sent to get everyone. The abandoned planes were bombed to prevent American technology from falling into Iranian hands.
After 50 hours, Bravo was safe, at dawn on the first day of Easter.