U.S. Pilot Says He Saw Drone Swarm Before Being Shot Down Over Iran

An American fighter pilot whose aircraft was downed over Iran in April told investigators that, just before he ejected, he saw a “wave” of drones circling in the air in what he described as a jellyfish-like formation, according to sources cited Tuesday by CNN. The pilot’s account has been shared with U.S. intelligence officials and has triggered an ongoing discussion inside the American intelligence community.

One source said the pilot described “many drones connected and flying as one drone, with smaller drones flying underneath,” and added: “It’s alien shit.” Another source told CNN that he said he saw a “minefield of drones” in the sky. Two sources said the way the Iranian drones were operated allowed the Islamic Republic to bring down the American aircraft.

The report says this was the first American plane shot down over Iran during the current round of fighting. The pilot’s testimony has become part of the broader intelligence review of the incident.