Aviation Daily Brief - April 4, 2026

US-Iran Military Incidents

• US F-15 Shot Down in Iran
  • Iranian media reports a US F-15 fighter jet was downed inside Iran.
  • US UH-60 helicopters and a refueling aircraft were seen near the border searching for the pilot.
  • Fars News claims the pilot has been captured; unverified reports suggest a helicopter and tanker were also shot down.
• Second US Plane Crash (A-10 Warthog)
  • Iran claims it shot down a US A-10 aircraft near the Strait of Hormuz.
  • The New York Times reports a crash in the Persian Gulf region; the pilot was rescued safely.
  • The Iranian army has confirmed the downing of the A-10.

Strikes Near Iranian Airports

• Reports indicate US and Israeli forces attacked areas around Shahid Beheshti University and Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran.
• Footage shows smoke rising over Mashhad following strikes near its international airport, with fuel stores reportedly burning.

US Tanker Emergency

• A Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker declared an emergency (squawk 7700) shortly after takeoff from Tel Aviv.
• The incident was tracked via MLAT, but data remains limited.

General Overview

• These military operations are significantly impacting aviation discussions, with no major civilian airline incidents reported during this timeframe.
• High engagement on social media platforms indicates ongoing developments; for real-time updates, refer to sources like Al Jazeera.