The second American pilot from a fighter jet that crashed in Iran is now “safe and secure”, US President Donald Trumphas announced.
In a statement posted on X by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump said the US military had carried out “one of the most daring search and rescue operations in American history” to recover the airman.
He described the rescued officer as “an incredible member of our military” and “a highly respected colonel”, adding that he was “pleased to report” the pilot was now safe.
According to Trump, the operation involved deploying “dozens of aircraft equipped with the most lethal weapons in the world” to locate and extract the pilot.
The president said the airman had sustained injuries but “will be fine”.
The pilot was the second member of the two-person crew aboard a US F-15 fighter jet which Iran said was shot down by its air defences on Friday.
Reuters reported earlier that the first crew member had already been rescued.