SPECIAL REPORT: American fighter jet appears to have been shot down by Iran, U.S. official says

[0:01] This is an ABC News special report. [0:05] Hi, I'm Diane Macedo. We are coming on the air with breaking news. [0:08] A U.S. official confirms to ABC News that it appears a U.S. fighter jet has been shot down by Iran. [0:14] Now a search and rescue operation is underway. [0:17] Let's get to our chief global affairs anchor, Martha Raddatz. [0:19] Martha, what do we know so far? [0:21] Well, Diane, what we do know is this was a two-seater aircraft. [0:24] The pilot would be in front. The weapons systems officer would be in back. [0:28] And this would be a very dramatic and very dangerous rescue. [0:34] Iran's Revolutionary Guard saying that Iranian forces had shot down the U.S. fighter overnight, [0:39] with Iranian state media releasing images of the wreckage of a jet and of an intact ejection seat. [0:48] The IRGC said it was an F-35. [0:51] But from the images that we do believe are credible but have not independently verified, [0:56] it looks like an Air Force F-35. [0:58] Now, U.S. pilots are trained in what is called SIR, if they are shot down or have to eject over enemy territory. [1:07] SIR stands for survive, evade, resist and escape. [1:11] The pilots, the navigator, of course, know that Iranians would be looking for them. [1:16] In fact, Iran put out a message to shoot the pilots if they were found and a reward was being offered. [1:23] Later, they said if they are found alive. [1:25] This comes after President Trump claimed in his speech, [1:29] on Wednesday night, that the Iranians have no anti-aircraft equipment. [1:33] Their radar is 100% annihilated. [1:36] The president's saying we are unstoppable as a military force. [1:40] But again, this is a very, very dangerous mission. [1:43] Diane. [1:44] And I want to bring in ABC's military analyst and former Marine Corps fighter pilot, Colonel Steve Ganyard. [1:49] Colonel Ganyard, what's the protocol when a plane like this is shot down and how dangerous is that? [1:56] As Martha noted, all pilots, all tactical pilots, [1:59] are trained in search and rescue evasion techniques, and so they know what to do. [2:06] They have equipment that will help the rescue forces find them. [2:11] We're seeing some extraordinary pictures coming out of Iran that appear to be credible, [2:16] showing U.S. Air Force combat search and rescue C-130s and Blackhawks at low altitudes searching for these crews. [2:24] So they've got the best of the best out there looking for them, [2:27] and hopefully that this has a positive impact. [2:29] And I think we're going to see the best of the best as it has a happy ending. [2:33] And ABC's Selena Wang is at the White House. [2:35] Selena, what challenges does this pose for the president? [2:38] Well, this certainly creates both a military and a diplomatic challenge for President Trump, [2:42] as you heard Martha just say, in the president's first prime time address since this war began. [2:46] The president repeatedly touted how the U.S. military and its prowess has decimated the Iranian regime, [2:53] as well as its military, saying they have no Navy, they have no Air Force, that they have no anti-aircraft equipment. [2:59] And that's what this all means. [3:01] And what this all means is despite this sustained continued U.S. military assault, [3:06] Iran has maintained the ability to maneuver and to hit back. [3:11] And so far, when we talk about the impact on U.S. troops in this war, [3:15] there have been 13 U.S. troops killed so far, 348 troops who have been wounded so far in this conflict. [3:21] And it also comes as the American people have been waiting to hear more from the president about how all of this could end. [3:27] The president has said that there will be another two to three weeks of intense military operations. [3:29] Intense bombing at the same time, he has said that this conflict, this military operation is nearing its end. [3:36] And ABC's Britt Klennett is in Jerusalem. Britt, what more are you hearing from the region? [3:41] Well, more intense exchanges of fire today with no sign of the fighting abating. [3:47] That's despite, as Selena was saying, you know, President Trump saying that they could finish the job in another two or three weeks. [3:54] We're talking 13 U.S. service members killed already, more than 300 wounded since this war began five weeks ago, [4:01] including an attack on a Saudi air base and during a refueling mission. [4:06] The Israel's Israeli death toll, it stands at 19 civilians, 10 soldiers, four Palestinians killed in the West Bank. [4:13] The death toll in Iran at more than 3500 and injured nearly 100. [4:20] That's according to the local officials there. But certainly, you know, this is adding to the unpopularity of this war, not just at home, but abroad. [4:28] Trump saying that the U.S. hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran. [4:31] Trump saying that the U.S. hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran. [4:31] Trump saying that the U.S. hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran. [4:31] Trump saying that the U.S. hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran. [4:32] Certainly even the allies are showing growing frustration. [4:36] And Martha, I know you'll be watching this closely to see how it plays out. [4:39] What could this mean for the trajectory of this war now? [4:42] Well, I think we have to keep a close eye on this rescue mission. [4:46] And we are all hoping and praying that the pilot and the navigator, the weapons systems officer, are OK. [4:52] They did eject separately. [4:54] That is how that works within milliseconds of one another. [4:57] So they are not necessarily right by each other. [5:02] They are certainly in the same vicinity. [5:04] But this could really put a lot of pressure on the Pentagon and the American public if something happens here. [5:11] All right, Martha, Steve, Selena, Britt, thank you all. [5:14] Again, a U.S. fighter jet shot down in Iran. [5:17] A search and rescue mission now underway. [5:19] We are going to return to your regular programming. [5:21] For some of you, that's Good Morning America. [5:23] But our coverage continues on ABC News Live and ABCNews.com. [5:27] And we will have a full wrap-up on world news tonight. [5:30] I'm Diane Macedo. [5:31] Have a great rest of the day. [5:32] This has been a special report from ABC News.