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Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

U.S. special forces recover second F-15E crewmember after shootdown over Iran; operation costly and complex

U.S. special operations forces recovered the second crewmember of an F-15E shot down over Iran on April 3, executing a complex, deep‑inside‑Iran rescue that encountered heavy resistance. Two C‑130s were destroyed on the ground during the operation; President Trump publicly celebrated the extraction.

2026-04-04T23:27:00.676918-07:00

CNBC

Planet Labs withholds imagery captured since March 9 as Iran conflict continues

2026-04-05T03:21:04.988317-07:00

Wall Street Journal

US CH-47 Chinook damaged in Kuwait after alleged Iranian strike during F-15E search

2026-04-03T10:52:47.548539-07:00

The Intercept

US A-10 Downed Near Strait of Hormuz While Rescuing Crew After F-15E Loss

2026-04-03T09:16:15.174965-07:00

News Timeline

CNBC

Planet Labs withholds imagery captured since March 9 as Iran conflict continues Planet Labs will withhold satellite imagery captured since March 9 in the area affected by the Iran conflict and says the policy will remain in effect until hostilities end. The pause blocks commercial and public access to near-real-time Earth‑observation data used for monitoring damage and movements.

2026-04-05T03:21:04.988317-07:00

Planet Labs withholds imagery captured since March 9 as Iran conflict continues

Air Data News

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U.S. special forces recover second F-15E crewmember after shootdown over Iran; operation costly and complex U.S. special operations forces recovered the second crewmember of an F-15E shot down over Iran on April 3, executing a complex, deep‑inside‑Iran rescue that encountered heavy resistance. Two C‑130s were destroyed on the ground during the operation; President Trump publicly celebrated the extraction.

2026-04-04T23:27:00.676918-07:00

U.S. special forces recover second F-15E crewmember after shootdown over Iran; operation costly and complex

FlightGlobal

USAF pulls KC-135 from boneyard for possible reactivation after tanker losses in Iran campaign The U.S. Air Force has transferred a retired KC-135 Stratotanker out of long-term storage, a move that signals possible reactivation after several tanker losses tied to the ongoing U.S.–Israeli air campaign against Iran. Open-source flight tracking shows the aircraft leaving the boneyard, suggesting expedited sustainment steps.

2026-04-03T12:15:34.553320-07:00

USAF pulls KC-135 from boneyard for possible reactivation after tanker losses in Iran campaign

Wall Street Journal

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US CH-47 Chinook damaged in Kuwait after alleged Iranian strike during F-15E search An Iranian projectile or drone reportedly struck and damaged a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, while forces were conducting a search for a downed F-15E. Iranian media published photos of the wreckage, highlighting helicopter vulnerability and questions about base air defences in the Gulf.

2026-04-03T10:52:47.548539-07:00

US CH-47 Chinook damaged in Kuwait after alleged Iranian strike during F-15E search

Wall Street Journal

US F-15E shot down over Iran in Operation Epic Fury; CSAR ongoing A U.S. Air Force F‑15E Strike Eagle was downed over Iran during Operation Epic Fury — the first fighter loss in a five‑week campaign that has generated roughly 13,000 combat sorties. Two crew reportedly ejected; combat search‑and‑rescue with Black Hawks and a C‑130 is underway amid mixed recovery reports.

2026-04-03T10:51:19.454508-07:00

US F-15E shot down over Iran in Operation Epic Fury; CSAR ongoing

The Intercept

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US A-10 Downed Near Strait of Hormuz While Rescuing Crew After F-15E Loss On April 3 a US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II crashed near the Strait of Hormuz while conducting rescue operations for the crew of an F-15E that had been shot down. Multiple reports tie both losses to Iran-related fighting in the region, marking rare combat attrition of US aircraft.

2026-04-03T09:16:15.174965-07:00

US A-10 Downed Near Strait of Hormuz While Rescuing Crew After F-15E Loss

AeroTime

USAF uses EA-37B Compass Call in operations against Iran before formal IOC The U.S. Air Force has deployed the EA-37B Compass Call electronic-attack jet in operations against Iran in the Middle East, marking the platform's first known combat employment. The sorties took place before the aircraft was formally declared operational, demonstrating early operational use of the new EW asset.

2026-04-02T11:22:02.543836-07:00

USAF uses EA-37B Compass Call in operations against Iran before formal IOC

FlightGlobal

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Malaysia Aviation Group eyes Q4 widebody replacement as profit doubles; fleet stance unchanged amid Middle East crisis Malaysia Aviation Group said it will not materially change its operating fleet despite the Middle East conflict, is targeting a fourth‑quarter long‑range widebody replacement order, and reported a doubling of 2025 profit on higher traffic and fleet expansion while flagging a cautious 2026 outlook amid geopolitical risks.

2026-04-02T10:15:46.842941-07:00

Malaysia Aviation Group eyes Q4 widebody replacement as profit doubles; fleet stance unchanged amid Middle East crisis

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Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact News

U.S. special forces recover second F-15E crewmember after shootdown over Iran; operation costly and complex

Planet Labs withholds imagery captured since March 9 as Iran conflict continues

US CH-47 Chinook damaged in Kuwait after alleged Iranian strike during F-15E search

US A-10 Downed Near Strait of Hormuz While Rescuing Crew After F-15E Loss

News Timeline