Iranian and US forces race to find missing American airman after fighter jet shot down

[0:00] An American fighter jet has been shot down over Iran, according to U.S. officials, [0:05] sparking a major search and rescue operation inside the country. [0:09] What's believed to be an F-15 Strike Eagle went down in the southwest of Iran. [0:14] One crew member was rescued by U.S. forces, according to CBS News, [0:18] but the fate of the other person on board remains unknown. [0:22] Iranian state television has been showing pictures of what it says is debris from the jet [0:27] and has broadcast an offer of a reward for anyone who captures a downed U.S. crew member alive. [0:34] President Trump has been briefed on the situation. [0:37] Tonight, there are reports that a second jet, an A-10 Warthog, [0:41] crashed after coming under fire while assisting in the first rescue. [0:46] That pilot ejected to safety. [0:48] Our first report tonight is from Tom Bateman in Washington. [0:53] U.S. search helicopters prowl the skies over southern Iran, [0:56] now in a deadly race. [0:58] The plane is set to land on the ground floor of the U.S. Air Force Base [1:02] and is expected to find America's missing airman. [1:05] Iranian state TV showing pictures of what it says is the wreckage of the downed U.S. fighter plane. [1:11] The Iranians claim it was shot down by an air defense system [1:14] as it flew over a rugged province in southwestern Iran. [1:19] Pictures on social media purport to show one of the two ejector seats. [1:23] These images are as yet unverified, [1:25] but appear to be consistent with parts of an F-15 fighter jet. [1:30] U.S. officials say they launched a combat rescue mission under fire, [1:34] finding one of the F-15 crew, its pilot. [1:37] But the recovery helicopter was hit by gunfire, injuring crew members. [1:41] These pictures appear to show men in a field opening fire on American Pavehawk helicopters [1:48] used in search operations. [1:50] We verified this footage was filmed today. [1:54] Another plane involved was also hit, an A-10 Warthog like this. [1:59] Its pilot ejected over the Gulf and was rescued. [2:03] Meanwhile, Iranian government messages have been broadcast, [2:06] calling on residents to join a hunt for the pilot, [2:10] offering a bounty for their capture. [2:14] This is the F-15E Strike Eagle, one of America's most advanced fighter planes. [2:19] It's used for bombing raids and to shoot down drones. [2:22] Behind the pilot is a weapons systems officer. [2:25] Shown here at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, [2:28] Iran's military claims the downed plane was from the Lakenheath squadron, [2:33] but the BBC has not confirmed. [2:34] This former F-15 pilot says the missing crew member will have been equipped for survival. [2:41] Once they're on the ground there, what's going to be going through their minds? [2:45] First thing is, how do I get myself away from where it is that I am? [2:49] And then how do I make contact with friendly forces to get myself back into friendly hands? [2:54] The White House says President Trump has been briefed. [2:57] He said nothing publicly about the rescue operation, posting only on social media about [3:02] Iran. [3:03] Keep the oil, anyone? [3:06] Iran yesterday released pictures of what it called its undeniable progress, saying Iran's [3:10] air defence systems had been largely destroyed. [3:13] But its claims to have free reign over Iran's skies will ring hollow, with the first known [3:19] loss of a manned US aircraft there since the start of the war, and a perilous search behind [3:24] Iranian lines. [3:26] The fate of the missing crew member could determine the direction of this conflict, [3:30] already unpopular with Americans, overseen by a leader looking for ways to end it. [3:37] And Tom joins us from Washington. [3:39] So what is the latest tonight where you are, Tom? [3:45] Well, Jane, we are told that President Trump's national security team has been gathered in [3:49] the West Wing of the White House all day, providing him updates on that search and rescue [3:54] operation, as you've been hearing taking place under fire with one of the crew of the F-15 [4:01] still unaccounted for. [4:03] Now, Mr. Trump has said nothing specifically about the operation itself, but he's done [4:08] two very brief news reports. [4:08] The first one is from the White House. [4:09] He's done two brief newspaper interviews here in Washington in the last hour or so, first [4:13] saying he wouldn't comment on the operation, but then asked if it would affect negotiations. [4:18] He said no to that question. [4:20] He was also asked about what he would do, what his response would be if that airman [4:25] was harmed. [4:26] And he said simply that he hoped that wasn't going to happen. [4:31] At the same time, we hear that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has sealed off a [4:34] huge area there in that rugged terrain around southwestern Iraq. [4:38] So, what is the latest? [4:38] In Iran, they've been using troops and locals to search for the missing person. [4:43] But so far, no sign of them. [4:45] So, you now have a race by two deadly adversaries for a missing American military service member. [4:53] And so far, no word about their condition. [4:56] Tom, thank you. [4:57] Tom Bateman in Washington. [4:58] Meanwhile, Iran has continued to strike Israel and its Gulf neighbors. [5:03] In Kuwait, an Iranian drone strike caused a fire at the Mina Al Ahmadi oil refinery, the [5:08] third time. [5:09] has been hit. A power and water desalination plant was also damaged. Israel's military said [5:15] it had carried out more than 70 strikes in western and central Iran. In the capital, Tehran, a [5:21] university science research facility was struck. Well, our correspondent Lorna Gordon is following [5:26] events from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Lorna, yet more strikes across the Gulf. [5:34] Yes, Jane, the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran is approaching its sixth week and the [5:40] states here in the Gulf, Iran's neighbours, are on the front line of what Iran calls retaliatory [5:46] attacks. They're occurring almost daily and the damage is mounting. As you say, that refinery in [5:53] Kuwait attacked for a third time. A desalination plant damaged as well. In Abu Dhabi, what's [6:02] described as significant damage has occurred to the natural gas processing facility there. One [6:09] person died. [6:10] Well, when falling debris started fires at the plant. It's also emerged today that one of the [6:18] biggest aluminium complexes in the world, which is in Abu Dhabi, could take up to 12 months to [6:25] restart after it was damaged last month in an attack. Abu Dhabi authorities, the military here, [6:32] say that over the last 24 hours they've engaged with around 50 missiles, around 20 missiles and [6:39] 50 drones. [6:40] This is the highest figure in many weeks. These attacks keep coming and they keep coming daily.