Pentagon and CENTCOM silent as reports of fighter jet and helicopter incidents in Iranian airspace pile up

Published April 3, 2026 10:50pm ET



The Pentagon and United States Central Command have been silent over a slew of reports that emerged on Friday about multiple U.S. military aircraft being shot down by Iranian fire, as well as reported rescue efforts for pilots involved.

Early Friday, reports emerged that a U.S. fighter jet was shot down over Iran, appearing to mark the first such incident during the war, prompting a search and rescue mission for the crew members. One has been found alive, officials told multiple outlets. Separately, two helicopters were reportedly fired at as they sought to locate the fighter jet’s crew. Another U.S. aircraft, an A-10 Thunderbolt, known as a Warthog, was also reportedly struck by Iranian fire as it searched for the missing crew member. The pilot entered Kuwaiti airspace, ejected safely, and the aircraft crashed, an official told NBC News.

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