A U.S. Air Force officer who survived the F-15E Iran shootdown has described free-falling with a damaged parachute before spending two days behind enemy lines.
The officer, identified only by his mission call sign “Bravo,” spoke to CBS’ “60 Minutes” in an interview aired Sunday. The Defence Department has not publicly identified him because of security concerns, the program said.
Bravo said a shoulder-fired missile struck the two-seat F-15E on April 2. His pilot and crewmate, identified as “Alpha,” then initiated the ejection.
After leaving the aircraft, Bravo said he saw his parachute had been damaged. He told the program that military professionals estimated he hit the ground at between 70 and 100 mph. “60 Minutes” reported that the impact broke Bravo’s back, arm and shoulder.
🔴CBS: Declassified Footage Reveals Dramatic U.S. Rescue of Injured Airman Inside Iran
📍Washington | September 13, 2026 | HewadPress:—Newly declassified footage has revealed the moment two U.S. Air Force pararescuers reached and evacuated an injured American officer nearly two… pic.twitter.com/WD3abFYjRr
— HewadPress (@HewadPress) September 14, 2026Despite those injuries, he said he hiked and climbed a 7,000-foot ridgeline while trying to avoid capture. Bravo remained behind enemy lines for two days without food or water before two U.S. Air Force pararescue operators reached him.
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Alpha landed about five miles away after the crew ejected, according to the program. Sunday’s segment did not include an interview with him.
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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps separately provided imagery described in the source as showing wreckage from the downed F-15 fighter jet in Iran.
