A U.S. Air Force officer named Bravo told 60 Minutes he survived a shot-down mission over Iran in April. Admiral Brad Cooper confirmed the U.S. flew roughly 13,000 missions in the region before the incident. Bravo was the weapons systems operator on an F-15E Strike Eagle that crashed after an Iranian missile hit it.
His parachute failed to open fully after the attack. Bravo said the impact felt “like getting hit by a freight train.” He hit the ground at speeds between 70 and 100 miles per hour. Military experts later called his survival “a modern-day miracle.”
For the first time publicly, the U.S. Air Force officer who was shot down over Iran and stranded behind enemy lines for two days tells his story, only on 60 Minutes. pic.twitter.com/r1uiksAZvl
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) September 13, 2026
Bravo broke his back, an arm, and a shoulder upon landing, according to RedState. He also sprained an ankle and suffered bleeding cuts. Despite these severe injuries, he climbed a 7,000-foot ridgeline to avoid capture. The pilot, known as Alpha, landed safely and was rescued within six hours. Finding Bravo took longer due to his hidden location.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine explained that Bravo moved to high ground to spot threats. Caine declared that the Iranian ground force had a clear intent to locate those two guys.Rescue teams reached the airman only after Iranian forces closed to within a few hundred meters.
The Central Intelligence Agency reportedly ran a deception campaign to move enemy forces away from Bravo. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said officials knew such incidents were possible. He added that “whether they’re alive or not, we’re going to go get them.”
After his parachute was damaged in an Iranian attack and didn’t fully open, the U.S. Air Force officer who was ejected from his fighter jet said “free-falling was a good way” to describe his descent. Military debriefers estimated he hit the ground at between 70 and 100 mph. pic.twitter.com/pNnR1LNDeL
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) September 13, 2026
President Donald Trump praised the special forces who executed the rescue. He characterized them as decisive, strong, brilliant, and as cool as anyone can be. The mission took place in the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province of southwestern Iran.
Bravo described the moment he saw his missing parachute as “the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen.” He paused to pray for help before trying to fix the damaged gear. He told host Norah O’Donnell he focused on solving problems rather than his falling speed.
Newly declassified footage shows the events leading up to the rescue of Bravo, the U.S. Air Force officer who was shot down and survived behind enemy lines in Iran for two days. https://t.co/YUIzeTBpKt pic.twitter.com/0x2zDndgmC
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) September 14, 2026
He credited his pilot, Alpha, for ejecting them from the $30 million jet. Bravo said he would be thankful to his dying day for Alpha saving their lives. He believes God protected him from injuries that would have ended his ability to survive.
The story marks the first public interview for the crew members since the April fighting. Bravo shared his tale during the premiere of 60 Minutes season 59.
