Second US fighter jet crashes around Persian Gulf, pilot rescued: Reports

The second plane crashed near the same time that Iran shot down an Air Force F-15E fighter jet, where one member of the two-person plane remains missing. The second aircraft has been identified as an A-10 Warthog attack plane.

Published: April 3, 2026 4:36pm

Updated: April 3, 2026 4:40pm

A second American fighter jet crashed in the Middle East Friday, according to multiple reports, and the lone pilot has been safely rescued.

The second plane crashed near the same time that Iran shot down an Air Force F-15E fighter jet, where one member of the two-person plane remains missing. The second aircraft has been identified as an A-10 Warthog attack plane.

Details on the second crash were not immediately clear, including the cause of the incident and the location where the plane fell, but the pilot has been rescued, according to the New York Times.

The two incidents come after the U.S. and Israel began the weeks-long conflict with Iran in February, which resulted in the death of former Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated against the U.S. and Israel by hitting American bases in the region and the U.S. warned Iran could expand its efforts to impact U.S. facilities in other countries.

Just The News has reached out to the United States Central Command and Pentagon for comment.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage. 

Just the News Spotlight

Support Just the News