US Air Force crew ejects over Iran in a high-risk military rescue mission

U.S. Air Force crews had just seconds to react after an F-15E Strike Eagle was hit by enemy fire over Iran on Friday. Both airmen ejected.

The instant-triggered escape from the plane launched a high-risk rescue mission deep in enemy territory; US forces raced to rescue the crew before Iranian forces could reach them.

In those few seconds, the ejection seat transforms from a last-resort security system into an explosive escape mechanism; before the parachute opens, ejecting the crew from the aircraft and into open air.

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That’s what the pilot and weapons systems officer aboard the F-15E over Iran experienced after their plane was shot down on Friday, forcing them to eject and triggering a high-risk rescue operation over the weekend. The incident and the successful rescue of both airmen in recent days offer a rare look at what happens in the seconds a pilot ejects and the extreme forces they endure to survive.

“This is a violent incident,” Pete “Gunz” Gersten, a former F-16 pilot who flew special operations missions, told Fox News Digital.

The process begins almost instantly when the pilot pulls the ejection lever.

The canopy disappears in a fraction of a second. The seat shoots upward, forcing the body into intense acceleration.

According to military experts, when the pilot pulls the ejection handle, he is exposed to forces ranging from 14G to 20G (14 to 20 times the force of gravity). For a 200-pound airman, this means his body suddenly feels like it weighs 4,000 pounds.

“You are no longer the decision maker,” Gersten said, describing what happened to the ejected pilots. “You are a participant and you are on the journey.”

Within minutes, the plane falls behind them as the crew hangs in open air, waiting for the parachute to open.

This is the moment two airmen over Iran will face off after their plane was shot down on Friday, forcing them to trigger a high-risk rescue operation over the weekend as U.S. forces try to detect and rescue them in hostile territory.

HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters participated in the rescue of a downed airman in Iran. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Deanna Muir)

The successful rescue of both the pilot and the weapons systems officer in the F-15E in recent days demonstrated both the risks of operating in contested airspace and the importance of rapid recovery capabilities.

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Pilots never practice actual ejection.

Instead, they train for an emergency they hope will never happen; They rely on repetition, simulation, and memorized procedures to prepare for a moment that will unfold in seconds.

“You’re relying on muscle memory for something you’ve never actually done,” Gersten said.

This training begins before pilots take their first flights.

“When they start flying, before they even get into the cockpit, they are trained on how to get out of the plane if something goes wrong,” Gersten said.

It all starts in the classroom, where pilots learn how the ejection system works. From there, they move on to simulators designed to replicate parts of the experience without subjecting themselves to the full force of a real escape.

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In one system, the ejection seat is mounted on a rail and launched upwards, giving pilots a partial idea of ​​the momentum they would feel in a real emergency.

But the training does not end when the seat “fires”.

Pilots are then strapped into harness systems that simulate a parachute landing, recreating the sensation of flying above the ground, often using virtual reality. There, they rehearse a strict sequence of actions: clearing their visors, checking their canopies, preparing their gear, and guiding them toward a safe landing zone.

For two airmen who jumped over Iran, this training helped them survive a violent and unpredictable escape deep into enemy territory.

Pilots are trained to prepare for a wide variety of scenarios, from water landings to mountainous terrain, each of which carries its own risks. (Jesus Olarte/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“There’s no checklist you can refer to when you’re hanging from a parachute,” Gersten said. “You actually have to memorize them.”

At the end of the simulation, trainees are dropped to the ground to practice the final and often most dangerous stage: landing.

“You have to be prepared, you have to be trained, otherwise you can hurt yourself,” Gersten said.

Before pulling the lever, pilots are trained to press their body directly into the seat, keeping their spine rigid and aligned to reduce the risk of serious injury.

In two-seat aircraft such as the F-15E, the pilot or weapons systems officer can initiate the ejection. When triggered, the system automatically ejects both airmen in rapid succession at sub-second intervals to prevent a mid-air collision.

Even after the parachute opens, the danger is not over.

“The biggest worry is… where will I land?” said Gersten.

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Pilots are trained to prepare for a wide variety of scenarios, from water landings to mountainous terrain, each of which carries its own risks. Landing injuries are common, especially when the pilot is not properly positioned or prepared for impact.

For two airmen who jumped over Iran, this training helped them survive a violent and unpredictable escape deep into enemy territory.

The pilot of the F-15E was captured by US forces late Friday. But the weapons system officer had to hide in enemy territory until he was spotted and rescued by the United States on Sunday.

“The second crew member—a heroic weapons systems officer—was in a difficult situation after ejection,” Trump said at a news conference. “Bleeding profusely, he climbed the cliff faces, treated his own wounds, and contacted American forces. He was surrounded by Iranian militia, but managed to evade capture by crossing dangerous mountainous terrain… he is a brave warrior.”

Modern systems have a survival rate of roughly 90% to 95%, according to military and medical research, but injuries are common. While studies have shown that up to 30% of pilots experience spinal fractures during ejection, broader examination has found serious injuries in roughly one-third of cases.

If a pilot’s arms or legs are out of position, excessive wind blast can cause fractures or dislocations, known as “spin injuries.”