‘Hope That’s Not Going To Happen’: Trump On What US Would Do If Missing F-15 Crew Shot Down By Iran

US President Donald Trump has asserted that Iran’s downing of an Air Force F-15E jet will not derail talks aimed at ending the conflict, while refusing to discuss what Washington might do in the worst-case scenario of the missing crew member being harmed.

Describing the situation as “a war”, President Trump said Iran’s actions would not affect the negotiations. “No, not at all. No, it’s war,” he told NBC News.

Trump also refused to comment on what action he might take if Iranian forces reach the downed airman, the first American aviator to be shot down over enemy territory since an A-10 “Warthog” pilot ejected into Iraq after being struck by a surface-to-air missile in April 2003, just weeks into Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to the Independent.

“We hope that’s not going to happen,” Trump remarked.

ALSO READ: Iran Official Hints At Targeting Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Which Links Red Sea To Gulf of Aden; If It Happens, Will It Affect India?

Meanwhile, the House Armed Services Committee has been informed by the Pentagon that the status of a second service member is unknown following the downing of the fighter jet.

“The panel was told that an F-15 was shot down and one service member has been recovered. The other service member’s duty status is unknown,” a congressional aide told the Associated Press.

ALSO READ: Tehran Claims Shooting Down Black Hawks, Video Shows US Rescue Mission In Iran After Fighter Jets Downed

This indicates that the Department of Defence does not know the individual’s whereabouts and that they are missing.

Another US combat aircraft went down over the Persian Gulf, according to multiple media reports, although the pilot was rescued. Iranian state media stated that the A-10 “Warthog” had been targeted by the IRGC near the Strait of Hormuz.