▲ File Photo (F-15 fighter jet)
A U.S. Air Force pilot who was rescued after being shot down over Iran in April has been confirmed to be a survivor of a friendly-fire shootdown incident that occurred in Kuwait just a month earlier.
Citing sources, CBS News reported on June 4 (local time) that the pilot survived two separate shootdowns: a friendly-fire incident by Kuwaiti air defenses in the early stages of the war, and a surface-to-air missile attack by Iranian forces.
The pilot was first shot down on March 2.
At the time, amid clashes between the U.S. and Iran, three U.S. F-15 fighter jets crashed due to a friendly-fire attack by Kuwaiti forces, but all six crew members, including the pilot, safely ejected.
This pilot was one of those six crew members.
Just a month later, on April 3, the pilot was shot down over southwestern Iran after being attacked by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
While the weapons systems officer aboard the same F-15E fighter jet was rescued after two days of hiding in enemy territory, the pilot was found within hours, having sustained serious injuries.
Despite being shot down twice in a single month, the pilot survived both times.
Experts assess that it is extremely rare for a U.S. military pilot to be shot down twice in the same conflict.
Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula, dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, said, "It is a highly unusual coincidence—like getting hit by lightning twice."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.