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Iranian Pilot Rescued After Jet Shot Down by Israeli F-35
Iranian media and a local climber have released footage showing the rescue of an Iranian Air Force pilot whose Yak-130 jet was shot down by an Israeli F-35 fighter jet on March 4, 2026. The pilot ejected over the rugged Lavasan Mountains, northeast of Tehran, during a conflict that lasted 40 days.
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What happened
- 01An Israeli F-35 fighter jet shot down an Iranian Yak-130 jet over Tehran on March 4, 2026.
- 02The pilot ejected and was found alive in the Lavasan Mountains after being stranded for two days.
- 03Iranian authorities used civilian climbers for the search because they feared military helicopters would face friendly fire.
- 04Iranian climber Javad Karai and Iranian media released footage documenting the pilot's location and rescue.
- 05The Israeli military confirmed the downing and released cockpit footage of the incident on March 5, 2026.
- 06The engagement marked the first time an F-35 shot down a manned aircraft in aerial combat.
According to Behadrei Haredim, the Iranian Air Force abandoned plans to launch military Chinook rescue helicopters from Tehran's Mehrabad Airport due to fears of friendly fire, worrying that the Revolutionary Guards' air and space force might mistake them for enemy aircraft. Instead, authorities enlisted local athletes and mountain climbers to search the difficult terrain.
Iranian climber Javad Karai located the injured pilot alive after he had been stranded in the mountains for two days. The Israeli military had previously confirmed the downing on March 4, 2026, and released cockpit footage the following day, noting it was the first time an F-35 had shot down a manned aircraft and the first time the Israeli Air Force had downed a manned enemy aircraft in air combat in about forty years.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Kikar HaShabbat. Read Kikar HaShabbat’s originalThe coverage
3 newsrooms on this story
Who covered it
- LeftNone
- CentreNone
- RightNone
- Haredi2
- ArabNone
- Other1
Not in the Left, Centre, Right or Arab press