F-15E weapons officer describes April 2026 shootdown over Iran

The weapons systems officer of the F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over Iran on April 3, 2026 has spoken publicly for the first time, describing the incident and the days that followed.

The officer, a colonel of the 494th Fighter Squadron identified only as DUDE 44 Bravo for security reasons, was interviewed on the CBS programme 60 Minutes, broadcast on September 13, 2026. The jet carried the callsign DUDE 44 and was part of a four-ship nighttime mission over mountainous terrain south of Isfahan.

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, said in the interview that the formation had been sent to strike an industrial facility tied to Iran's drone and missile programmes. The target was not the Isfahan nuclear site, he said.

According to the account, a shoulder-fired missile brought the jet down. The aircraft was valued at roughly $30 million; the weapon that downed it costs about $100,000. The crew member spent two days behind enemy lines before being rescued.

Since the shootdown the US Air Force has not released the identities of the two crew members. The only official information about them came in Pentagon briefings to the press after the rescue operation. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was also interviewed and was asked about his reaction to being woken with news of the shootdown.