US airman recounts 50-hour ordeal and rescue after Iran shoot-down

A U.S. Air Force colonel, identified only as "Bravo," told CBS's 60 Minutes that his F-15 was hit by an Iranian shoulder-fired missile in April, forcing him and his co-pilot to eject. He said his parachute was damaged, causing a hard landing that broke his back, arm and shoulder and injured his head, face and ankle. After the crash, Bravo climbed a 7,000-foot ridge while injured, using a pistol, a communication device and a tracking beacon to signal for help.

The rescue, described as involving thousands of personnel, included Delta Force, Navy SEAL Team Six and a CIA decoy operation. More than 20 helicopters and several search-and-rescue aircraft were deployed, with some aircraft coming under fire. The operation retrieved the co-pilot, known as "Alpha," six hours after the shoot-down and rescued Bravo about 50 hours later.

"It was a gun fight all the way in and all the way out, but they got Alpha back," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on the program.

"There was a: ‘I’m hurt, I’m moving,’ and there was a ‘God is good’ message that came in there. Now we knew he was alive. He’s moving. OK, let’s keep planning," Central Command head Brad Cooper added.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell later called the segment a "complete lie" and said participation decisions were made by the pilots themselves, emphasizing that operational security was protected. CNN reported that CBS News editor Bari Weiss had sought exclusive access to the story, and that the appearance of the airmen was a priority for the Defense Department.

The rescue effort, according to officials, involved more than 90 ground troops, several hundred aircrew and up to 5,000 personnel overall, and included airstrikes on nearby Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces. One rescue plane became stuck in desert sand and was later destroyed to prevent capture.