Donald Trump has shared details about a tense rescue mission involving a downed US pilot in Iran, including a radio message that initially made officials fear they were walking into a trap.
According to Iranian state media, a US F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Khuzestan Province on April 3. While one crew member managed to eject and was quickly rescued, the second pilot remained missing for nearly two days, armed only with a handgun. Reports suggested Iranian forces even placed a $60,000 bounty on him as he hid in mountainous terrain, with US drones providing aerial protection by targeting nearby threats.
Trump provides update on status of missing pilot
The situation ended successfully over the weekend when the pilot was recovered. Trump announced the news on Truth Social, writing: “WE GOT HIM!” He went on to praise the mission, calling it “one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US History,” and added that the officer was now “SAFE and SOUND!” despite some injuries, which he said “will be just fine.”
In an interview with Axios, Trump described how dangerous the situation had been, claiming “thousands of these savages were hunting him down,” and adding: “Even the population was looking for him. They offered people a bonus if they captured him.”
The four-word message
The rescue effort relied heavily on advanced tracking technology, with signals helping pinpoint the pilot’s location. However, there was a moment of uncertainty early on. After ejecting, the pilot reportedly radioed the phrase “Power be to God,” which raised suspicions. Trump explained: “What he said on the radio sounded like something a Muslim would say,” leading officials to worry it might be a deceptive signal intended to lure US forces into danger.
Those concerns were later eased when people familiar with the pilot confirmed he was religious, making the message consistent with his personal beliefs.
The pilot was eventually found hiding in a mountain crevice and was evacuated to Kuwait for medical treatment. Reflecting on the ordeal, Trump re-emphasized the magnitude of the rescue mission: “This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines… being hunted down by our enemies… but was never truly alone.”
