The pilot of the F-15E Strike Eagle of the U.S. Air Force has become a unique case in modern conflicts: he was shot down twice in one war. According to American media, this pilot, whose name is not disclosed, initially ejected after his aircraft was hit by “friendly fire” in Kuwait, and later crashed over Iranian territory on April 3.
This is reported by Finway
Two Incidents in Five Weeks
The first incident occurred in late February when one of three F-15Es was shot down by a Kuwaiti F/A-18 fighter. The second case took place on April 2, when the F-15E was struck by a man-portable air-defense missile over Iran. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that two crew members were successfully rescued after ejecting. The weapons operator during the second incident was injured as his parachute did not fully deploy.
American media have already stated that this makes the pilot “almost certainly” the first U.S. Air Force pilot to be shot down twice in the same conflict since the Vietnam War, reports High Side.
Health Consequences and Further Service
Ejecting is an extremely traumatic procedure for pilots: during the ejection, they experience forces of 15-20G, which can lead to spinal compression, fractures, hematomas, and concussions. After the pilots are rescued, they must undergo MRI scans, medical examinations, rehabilitation, and psychological consultations, which usually take several months. In the case of this American pilot, his return to service occurred quite quickly, raising questions among experts.
It is also known that during the search and rescue operation in Iran, American troops were fired upon from the ground, and even one of the helicopters was shot down. This only underscores the complexity of the operation to rescue the crew of the downed fighter in a combat zone.
Hostilities continue despite a ceasefire announced on April 8 with the mediation of Pakistan. The parties have yet to reach a lasting agreement, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, and Iran continues to threaten to block the Suez Canal.