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

This is an ABC News special report.

Hi, I'm Diane Medo. We are coming on the air with breaking news. A US official confirms to ABC News that it appears a US fighter jet has been shot down by Iran. Now, a search and rescue

Iran. Now, a search and rescue operations underway. Let's get to our

operations underway. Let's get to our chief global affairs anchor, Martha Ratitz. Martha, what do we know so far?

Ratitz. Martha, what do we know so far?

Well, Diane, what we do know is this was a two-seater aircraft. The pilot would be in front. The weapon systems officer would be in back. And this would be a

very dramatic and very dangerous rescue.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard saying that Iranian forces had shot down the US fighter overnight with Iranian state media releasing images of the wreckage

of a jet and of an intact ejection seat.

The IRGC said it was an F-35, but from the images that we do believe are credible, but have not independently verified, it looks like an Air Force

F15. Now, US pilots are trained in what

F15. Now, US pilots are trained in what is called SEIER if they are shot down or have to eject over enemy territory. SEIR

stands for survive, evade, resist, and escape. The pilots, the navigator, of

escape. The pilots, the navigator, of course, know that Iranians would be looking for them. In fact, Iran put out a message to shoot the pilots if they were found and a reward was being

offered. Later, they said if they are

offered. Later, they said if they are found alive. This comes after President

found alive. This comes after President Trump claimed in his speech on Wednesday night that the Iranians have no anti-aircraft equipment. Their radar is

anti-aircraft equipment. Their radar is 100% annihilated. The president saying

100% annihilated. The president saying we are unstoppable as a military force.

But again, this is a very, very dangerous mission. Diane,

dangerous mission. Diane, and I want to bring in ABC News military analyst and former Marine Corps fighter pilot, Colonel Steve Ganard. Colonel

Ganard, what's the protocol when a plane like this is shot down? And how

dangerous is that?

Uh, as Martha noted, uh, all pilots, all tactical pilots are trained in search uh, and rescue evasion techniques. Uh,

and so they know what to do. They have

equipment that will help uh, the rescue uh, forces find them. Uh we're seeing some extraordinary pictures uh coming out of Iran that appear to be credible

showing uh US Air Force combat search and rescue C130s and Blackhawks at low altitude searching for these crews. So

uh they've got the best of the best out there looking for them and and hopefully that this uh has has a happy ending.

And ABC's Selena Wang is at the White House. Selena, what challenges does this

House. Selena, what challenges does this pose for the president?

Well, this certainly creates both a military and a diplomatic challenge for President Trump. As you heard Martha

President Trump. As you heard Martha just say and the president's first prime time address since this war began. The

president repeatedly touted how the US military and its prowess has decimated the Iranian regime as well as its military saying they have no navy, they have no air force, that they have no

anti-aircraft equipment. But what we

anti-aircraft equipment. But what we have seen is despite the sustained continued US military assault, Iran has maintained the ability to maneuver and

to hit back. And so far when we talk about the impact on US troops in this war, there have been 13 US troops killed so far. 348 troops who have been wounded

so far. 348 troops who have been wounded so far in this conflict. And it also comes as the American people have been waiting to hear more from the president about how all of this could end. The

president has said that there will be another two to three weeks of intense bombing. At the same time, he has said

bombing. At the same time, he has said that this conflict, this military operation is nearing its end.

And ABC's Britt Kennet is in Jerusalem.

Brit, what more are you hearing from the region?

Well, more intense exchanges of fire today with no sign of the fighting abating. That's despite, as Selena was

abating. That's despite, as Selena was saying. You know, President Trump saying

saying. You know, President Trump saying that they could finish the job uh in another two or three weeks. We're

talking 13 US service members killed already. more than 300 wounded since

already. more than 300 wounded since this war began 5 weeks ago, including an attack on a Saudi air base and during a refueling mission. The Israel's Israeli

refueling mission. The Israel's Israeli death toll, it stands at 19 civilians, 10 soldiers, four Palestinians killed in the West Bank. The death toll in Iran at

more than 3,500 uh and in injured nearly 100. Uh that's

according to local officials there. But

certainly, you know, this is adding to the unpopularity of this war, not just at home, but abroad. Trump saying that the US hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran. Certainly, even the

allies uh are showing growing frustration.

And Martha, I know you'll be watching this closely to see how it plays out.

What could this mean for the trajectory of this war now? Well, I think we have to keep a close on eye on this rescue mission and we are all hoping and praying that the pilot and the

navigator, the weapon systems officer are okay. Uh they did eject separately.

are okay. Uh they did eject separately.

That is how that works within milliseconds of one another. So they are not necessarily right by each other but certainly in the same vicinity. Uh but

this could really put a lot of pressure on the Pentagon and the American public if something happens here. Diane,

Martha, Steve, Selena, Britt. Thank you

all again. A US fighter jet shot down in Iran. A search and rescue mission now

Iran. A search and rescue mission now underway. We are going to return to your

underway. We are going to return to your regular programming. For some of you,

regular programming. For some of you, that's Good Morning America, but our coverage continues on ABC News Live and abcnews.com. And we will have a full

abcnews.com. And we will have a full wrap-up on World News Tonight. I'm Diane

Medo. Have a great rest of the day.

This has been a special report from ABC News.