Trump Vows to Pursue Leaker Behind Classified Airman Rescue Details
President Donald Trump has made a strong statement regarding the leak of classified information about the search for a second missing airman following the downing of an F-15E fighter jet over Iran. During a Monday briefing, he emphasized that the unnamed media company responsible for the report would be compelled to reveal its source or face legal consequences.
“We’re gonna go to the media company that released it and we’re gonna say: ‘National security. Give it up or go to jail,’” Trump stated.
The incident involved two airmen whose F-15E fighter jet was shot down behind enemy lines on Good Friday. While the pilot was rescued within hours, the weapons system operator (WSO) remained missing until Sunday morning. An Israeli outlet first reported the news, which was soon echoed by U.S. media outlets. This revelation, according to Trump, alerted the Iranians to the ongoing classified operation to find the second airman, thereby putting U.S. lives at risk.
“They didn’t know there was somebody missing until this leaker gave the information,” Trump said. “All of a sudden, the entire country of Iran knew that there was a pilot that was somewhere on their land that was fighting for his life.”
Trump added, “We have to find that leaker, because that’s a sick person.”
A White House official later confirmed to the Daily Mail that an investigation is underway into the leak. The initial report of the rescued pilot appeared on X, shared by an Israeli journalist affiliated with Channel 12. Amit Segal, the reporter, posted, “Western source: One of the American crew members was successfully rescued.” He later told the New York Post, “I’m not sure I was the first,” and emphasized his commitment to protecting his sources.
Tommy Vietor, a former spokesman for Barack Obama, raised concerns about the potential implications of Trump’s remarks, particularly if the source was linked to Israeli officials. “Does that mean Trump is going to prosecute Israeli journalists or media execs, including ones close to Netanyahu?” Vietor questioned.
The initial report was quickly corroborated by Axios, CBS News, and Reuters. However, the White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail’s request for comment on which outlet or reporter might face legal action.
The WSO’s Ordeal in Iran
The WSO spent nearly 48 hours in Iran, evading Iranian hunting parties who were offered bounties for his capture. The service member, who flew under the call sign “Dude 44,” landed far from his crew and was injured early on after ejecting from the F-15E. Neither the U.S. military nor intelligence agencies could locate him for a long time, while the pilot was rescued by special operations commandos within a few hours.
Eventually, the WSO radioed in, “God is good,” prompting U.S. forces to begin tracking and planning for his extraction. Trump described an extensive operation involving 155 aircraft, including 64 fighter jets, 48 refueling tankers, 13 rescue aircraft, three helicopters, and more.
Trump praised the operation as a “breathtaking show of skill and precision, lethality and force.” He highlighted the officer’s resilience, stating, “He scaled cliff faces, bleeding rather profusely, contacted his platoon, treated his own wounds and contacted American forces.”
“God was watching us,” the President said of the successful, odds-defying operation.
How the Daring Extraction Unfolded
Friday morning, April 3
Near the village of Talkhuncheh, Isfahan Province, Iran, an F-15E Strike Eagle was apparently hit by Iranian fire. Tehran claimed it was deploying new anti-aircraft weapons, and there were suspicions that an advanced passive infrared detection system was used to guide a missile. Both the pilot and weapons systems officer ejected.
Hours 1–12
The Weapons Systems Officer, a lieutenant colonel, was injured during the ejection and became separated from the pilot. U.S. special forces HH-60W Jolly Green 2 helicopters flew in and came under fire from Iranians. They rescued the pilot but were unable to reach the other crewman. Two helicopters were hit, and the crew were injured but managed to escape Iranian airspace. An A-10 Warthog was also hit by fire and later crashed in the Strait of Hormuz. An MC-130J refueling aircraft was filmed fuelling two helicopters over the crash site. Iranians were also filmed firing at one rescue helicopter.
Hours 12–24
The Weapons Systems Officer began hiking away from the wreck site and evaded detection by Iranian forces. Armed with just a hand gun and injured but mobile, the senior officer headed for higher ground. Using his SERE training, he activated his emergency beacon and waited for a rescue. Although he could use the beacon to contact rescuers, it also risked revealing his location to the enemy.
Saturday morning
U.S. special forces launched a second rescue mission with commandos from the elite SEAL Team 6, also known as DEVGRU, and landed at a desert airstrip near the town of Mahyar. The Navy Seals flew in four MH-6 Little Birds and rescued the officer from the mountain top before returning to the desert airstrip.
Saturday afternoon
The two C-130 aircraft got stuck in the dirt at the desert landing strip, forcing the U.S. to deploy three new Dash-8 rescue aircrafts. The commandos blew up the two stuck aircraft and at least one helicopter to deny them to the enemy before making their escape.
